Publication

This commentary discusses the actions of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot and places them in the context of identification of the Russian Orthodox church with the regime of Vladimir Putin. He argues that against this background, the actions of Pussy Riot are not directed against Orthodoxy so much as the political role of the church. The good works of local priests are seen as not necessarily reflected in the behavior of the church hierarchy which has long been co-opted to lend legitimacy to the authoritarian Russian state.