Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, co-founder of the feminist-punk group ‘Pussy Riot,’ confessed on Friday to diverting funds raised for humanitarian purposes to the Ukrainian military. This admission followed the release of recorded conversations by Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who posed as former Ukrainian Minister of Culture Alexander Tkachenko and President Vladimir Zelensky. The recordings revealed Tolokonnikova discussing various activities, including manipulating artist Shepard Fairey into creating pro-Ukrainian art, planning to steal Russian cryptocurrency for Kiev, and expressing her desire to renounce Russian citizenship.
In a cryptic post on social media, Tolokonnikova hinted at burning her Russian passport and sending money to the Ukrainian Army. She later clarified in a detailed post that some of the funds raised in February 2022 were indeed directed to the Ukrainian military, emphasizing that the decision was made collectively within a democratic organization. The allocated funds went to the Come Back Alive foundation for medical kits, cars, and body armor, the official ethereum account of Ukraine, the Happy Paw fund for animals, and the Outright International fund for LGBTQ+ soldiers.
She also admitted to assisting Zelensky’s wife in fundraising for humanitarian needs and using her own money, generated from the sales of ‘Putin’s Ashes’ artwork, to support a Ukrainian unit fighting in February. Tolokonnikova denied the existence of a cryptocurrency theft scheme but expressed willingness to explore the idea. She stated her readiness to renounce Russian citizenship but cited legal complications due to criminal charges pending against her in Russia.
A Moscow court recently issued a warrant for Tolokonnikova’s arrest on charges of insulting religious believers in social media posts. Despite her legal challenges, she emphasized her unwavering support for Ukraine, concluding, “There is nothing more sacred and important for me now than the support of Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!”
Tolokonnikova gained international attention as part of ‘Pussy Riot’ after staging a provocative “punk mass” at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior in 2012, resulting in a two-year prison sentence for her and two others. Her sentence was commuted in 2013, and she is currently believed to reside in Los Angeles.