In the fifty-second minute of the nail-biting World Cup final – a tense match between Croatia and France – the field was stormed by four women dressed as Russian police officers. Arguably the biggest televised stage for a political protest, Pussy Riot knew the world would be watching.
In a deciding moment during the final, when Croatia had the opportunity to score, the unexpected happened. Members of the part-punk, part-protest feminist group Pussy Riot sprinted onto the pitch. The game was paused and the group were quickly escorted away by out-of-breath security guards at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. It was here that politics entered the arena, and was swiftly given a red card.
The Russian activists have been making waves since 2011, with one of their most notorious performances inside the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour causing uproar across Russia. The so-called “sacrilegious” act launched the platform for the guerrilla performers, who adamantly oppose Russia’s government and state leader Vladimir Putin, to strike-up debate and awareness, all the while donning absurdly colourful balaclavas.
The world of sport can be perceived as a repeat offender for creating an impenetrable shield in protecting undesirable truths; whether indiscretions of a player, or supporting a corrupt country with an oppressive regime. But this year’s ultimate sports bubble – The World Cup – was burst by Pussy Riot a few nights ago. A bubble that had been successful in covering mass protests around the country, was punctured in the right spot, alerting millions of fans to Russia’s corruption and perfectly utilising the arena to stage a stunning political spectacle.
It was actually my humble father who told me of the Pussy Riot news. My dad, a 57-year-old Socceroos stan, was informing me about a political demonstration. Honestly, I’d never thought I’d never see the day. If people like my father understood the depth of the message sprawled across the playing field, why wouldn’t every other avid soccer fan?
Hundreds of fans gathered in pubs, work colleagues and families all watching the game knew that this was no streaker wanting 15-minutes of fame. The strategic and carefully constructed symbolism – the black and white uniforms, the unruly women – created an image of chaos that was occurring on the streets right outside the stadium’s thick walls. The scene was witnessed by millions and blatantly illustrated the kind of reckless destruction over 45 million Russian’s face from their arbitrary government and its authorities. With this beautifully poignant gesture, Pussy Riot succeeded in making a bold statement during The Cup.
Since the match and the arrests of the trailblazing members that soon followed, the group have proudly claimed responsibility for the stunt. Their demands following the arrests are simple, yet reflect the almost unbelievable reality of the Russian state – militant and extremely regulated. With news and media outlets sharing the six-point list, Pussy Riot has succeeded in creating visibility for their cause. The demands are as follows:
1. Free all political prisoners.
2. Stop jailing people for social-media “likes.”
3. Stop illegal arrests at protests.
4. Allow political competition.
5. Stop fabricating criminal cases and putting people in jail for no reason.
6. Turn the earthly policeman into a Heavenly Policeman (i.e. remove corruption from the police force).
These points speak volumes on the hostility towards Russia’s people. As the The World Cup stands for healthy competition, sportsmanship, and inclusiveness, this harsh reality in a realm of celebration made the stunt all the more affective. Perhaps the most memorable event during The Cup (other than random strangers chanting ‘It’s coming home’) Pussy Riot rightly established a playground for a much-needed dialogue on the most-watched two hours of television.
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