Pussy Riot Members Flee Russia Amid Arrests and State Surveillance

Veronika Nikulshina and Aleksandr Sofeyev, members of the performance-art collective Pussy Riot, departed Russia in July after facing repeated arrests since May, as reported by RFE/RL. Both were arrested twice between June and July, with charges including alleged disobedience of police and 'minor hooliganism,' leading to sentences of 10-15 days each time. They left on July 18 and 19, respectively, citing ongoing state persecution. Upon their departure, they claimed to have been followed to the airport by officers from the Interior Ministry's anti-extremism directorate. Another member, Anna Kuzminykh, has also indicated plans to leave Russia. Sofeyev mentioned a potential return after the country's legislative elections in September.