The Pussy Riot activist turned Kremlin informer
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The Pussy Riot activist turned Kremlin informer

B2Upper-intermediateSeptember 29, 202631 min

Their opposition to Putin led to two of the group being sent to brutal prison camps. Then another was found to be spying for the Kremlin. Shaun Walker reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

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B2 · Upper-intermediate

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0:00

This is The Guardian. Today, the Pussy Riot artist who turned Kremlin in former. A quick warning before we start, there is some strong language in this episode. It's January 2012 in Red Square, Moscow.

0:30

Snow covers the cobbles and dusts the onion globes of St Basil's Cathedral. The clock on the Kremlin chimes 11am. Eight women in colourful balaclava's leap onto a stone platform, worn with an electric guitar.

0:51

It's Pussy Riot, a new feminist punk band, and their latest song. Putin Zasal. Putin has chickened out. Or pissed himself to use the band's preferred translation. It's quite a punchy number. You can watch it all on YouTube, but I'll translate the first verse for you. The rebellious column is heading to the Kremlin. Windows are exploding in FSB offices,

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