Jailed Pussy Riot members do not regret anythingÂ
January 23, 2013
The Russian punk-rock band, Pussy Riot, was sentenced to two years in jail after performing a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin at the main cathedral in Moscow this past August. However, the imprisoned members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina, have no regrets, according to The Associated Press.Â
The two recently opened up to the independent newspaper, Novoya Gazeta, about their harsh living environment in the prison colonies. Tolokonnikova is working at a sewing machine, much like the other women in jail. In the interview, she said she has her fingers punctured quite often by the needle, but she has gotten much faster at it. In fact, she can now meet her quota of creating 320 jackets each day, the media outlet reports. When it comes to bathing, she only gets to once a week and has to use cold water the rest of the time.Â
"I am not paying much attention to living conditions," Tolokonnikova said last month. "I'm ascetic, and living conditions matter little for me."
The band has three members, but its third, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released on appeal. However, the other two will stay in prison for the remainder of their sentence. Tolokonnikova has shared that their protest had nothing to do with religion, but they still were charged and convicted of hooliganism.Â
"“It was an ironic, cheerful and bold act, a political outcry, so to speak," Tolokonnikova told the news source.Â
One thing that has remained consistent during this national story is that the three women have stayed strong and have never spoken of regrets or wishes to go back and change what they did.
Those who want to talk about the Pussy Riot member can make calls to Russia using international calling cards.Â