Pussy Riot Co-Founder Nadya Tolokonnikova Added to Russia’s Wanted List

Nadya Tolokonnikova, a co-founder of the feminist punk collective Pussy Riot, has been indicted by Russia’s Investigative Committee and added to the country’s federal wanted list. The charges follow an investigation into the artist and activist’s alleged violations of Russia’s foreign agent law.

According to reports from Billboard and representatives for Pussy Riot, Tolokonnikova is accused of violating Part 2 of Article 330.1 of the Russian criminal code. This specific charge applies to designated foreign agents who fail to properly register or label their activities, and it carries a potential prison sentence of up to two years.

The indictment stems from allegations that Tolokonnikova distributed materials on a messaging platform without the required labeling while she was outside of Russia. This development follows a series of previous legal challenges; the Krasnoyarsk Krai Court found her guilty of administrative offenses related to foreign agent regulations twice in 2024.

Recent Activism and the Ubiquiti Protest

The latest legal action by Russian authorities comes shortly after Pussy Riot staged a high-profile protest on March 27, 2026. The group gathered outside the Manhattan headquarters of the tech company Ubiquiti, claiming that the company’s Wi-Fi equipment is being utilized by Russian soldiers in the ongoing war against Ukraine.

Following the protest, Tolokonnikova released a video statement alleging that the Russian military uses Ubiquiti technology to communicate with troops on the front lines.

History of Legal Conflict with the Russian State

Tolokonnikova has a long history of political activism and subsequent legal repercussions within Russia. On August 17, 2012, she was arrested for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred following Pussy Riot’s performance of A Punk Prayer at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. The performance was a response to accusations of electoral fraud during the re-election of Vladimir Putin.

She was sentenced to two years of imprisonment but was released early on December 23, 2013, under an amnesty bill passed for the 20th anniversary of the Russian constitution.

Russia’s Ministry of Justice officially designated Tolokonnikova as a foreign agent on December 30, 2021. Since then, she has continued her activism from abroad, having acquired Icelandic citizenship in 2025.

Artistic Career and Global Influence

Beyond her political activism, Tolokonnikova has established herself as a conceptual artist and musician. In June 2022, she released the debut Pussy Riot mixtape titled Matriarchy Now. That same month, she took Pussy Riot’s activism to the United States, staging a protest at the Indiana State Capitol in response to the US Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Her musical output has included several high-profile collaborations, such as a single with Avenged Sevenfold and a collaboration with Nova Twins. She also released a mixtape executive produced by Tove Lo, which featured artists including Big Freedia, Hudson Mohawke, Salem Ilese, and iLoveMakonnen.

Tolokonnikova’s work and activism have earned various accolades, including the 2023 Woody Guthrie Prize, the LennonOno Grant for Peace, and the Hannah Arendt Prize, the latter of which she shared with fellow band member Maria Alyokhina.

In 2023, Tolokonnikova announced the development of a scripted television series about Pussy Riot. She stated that her goal for the production was to inspire a new generation of rebels.

Pussy Riot continues to be known for provocative global actions, including a performance at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and a pitch invasion during the 2018 World Cup Finals.