Two members of the all-girl Russian punk group Pussy Riot who escaped being arrested after performing inside Moscow’s main cathedral in February are on the run.

Five members of the feminist-punk band/collective put on the performance to protest Russian President Vladimir Putin’s cozy relationship with the Orthodox Church. Three of them were caught and sent to prison for three years for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. The other two, looking to avoid gulags prison, have skipped the country.

A few tweets have been posted from what is thought to be the group’s official twitter account, saying that two of the band members have escaped the iron fist of Putin’s Russia, and are abroad recruiting foreign feminists to join their cause.

Pyotr Verzilov, husband of one of the convicted members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, told Reuters yesterday that the two members of the group who have fled Russia, had taken part in the cathedral protest along with his wife. He said:

Since the Moscow police said they are searching for them, they will keep a low profile for now. They are in a safe place beyond the reach of the Russian police.

By this it is assumed that they have escaped to a country which has no extradition agreement with Russia. Verzilove added that Pussy Riot’s work will continue:

But you must remember that 12 or even 14 members who are still in Russia actively participate in the band’s work now; it’s a big collective.

I am sure that soon enough we will hear where these two members of the group are, as they will want as much media attention as they can garner. It’s a little reminiscent of Julian Assange, but with balaclavas, guitars, and churches. Far more entertaining.

[Source: The Guardian]