In Moscow — middle of the night. Masha (Maria) Alyokhina, a member of the energetic protest punk band Pussy Riot serving a Balaclava, stands on a bustling street in the centre of the city. Around her, a crowd of artists, actors and activists protesting against the detention of daring theatrical and film Director Kirill Serebrennikov, whose house at dawn, police officers in masks raided in connection with a case of alleged multimillion-dollar embezzlement.
It’s the end of may, in the evening heat. In the Russian capital, where such critics of the Kremlin, as pieces of silver, all the time threatened with trumped up charges — or something worse — nearing the end of another rainy day. “Kirill is one of the few stage Directors who aren’t afraid to work with political and religious issues, — said Alekhine. But things don’t happen the first time. This is not the only way people show that they must be obedient.”
Later, however, this miniature, but the bellicose 28-year-old woman will be the highlight of the program on passing in this month’s Dark Mofo festival in Hobart don’t seem to sleep at night. Her representative asks me to call via Skype, about the hour of the night and says that Alekhine at this time still works. Her life seems strange and unpredictable. It is a late awakening, spontaneous demonstrations, clashes with police, work in the office of the independent mass media, which she helps to produce.
“Can we talk in an hour?” she wrote me once at 11 PM. When I call back, she hasn’t come home after an evening full of poetry and protests. I hear people around sipping through straws soft drinks. She asks to speak quickly — the batteries in her phone were only 2% charge.
“I’m calling to ask about the Armageddon,” I say. I want to know how to behave in a world in which rampant right-wing politicians, social conservatives and reactionaries. To fight or to give in? Fight or flight?
To survive in the big disaster titled “the 21st century” is not so easy. However, Alekhine in this case has a lot of experience. In 2012, her and one of her fellow members of Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years hard labor in prison for something that the girls broke into the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and performed a “punk prayer” calling to the virgin Mary to drive Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The documentary “Speech and punishment,” which will be shown at Dark Mofo, dedicated to the fate of women after their early release in 2013. Alyokhina and another member of the group — Sasha (Alexandra) Bogino — after viewing to answer questions. They will also perform in Hobart as DJs — will put “songs, inspiring their revolution”.
To begin, I asked them to recommend how to survive the offensive of the right. They noted that Australia is also not free from these tendencies and reminded of how the Federal government treats refugees and asylum seekers.
However, Alekhine is looking to the future with optimism. “I am not a politician. I don’t have a political strategy, she explains. — There are no heroes who come to save all from evil. But I think that everyone can change the world. And it happens every day, in schools, in universities, on the streets — everywhere.”
So, here is a guide to survival in the 21st century from Pussy Riot — in five easy steps.
1. It’s a matter of trust
“To get only true information is impossible,” — says Bogino. A fair amount of news in Russia is supplied through state-controlled media. Private media also provide PR and someone’s commercial interests.
First you need to learn to distinguish fact from fiction, she advises. Look for different information sources, including social networks.
Compare data from different sources, small and large. “Gather as much information as possible and make up your own opinion — adds Bogino. Media are not objective. Every article I read I separate from each other information, lies and personal opinion”.
Don’t take any “fact” at face value.
Check everything you hear or read, even if the information comes from colleagues. “They can also lie — emphasizes Bogino. I don’t fully trust”.
2. Love your neighbors
Bogino 22 years. Her parents have two children 17 and nine. All their lives they lived under the rule of Vladimir Putin. However, in politics — even in Russian — nothing is impossible to be sure, she says. “The President can be in power forever, or four years. In politics, nothing is stable. So do not dwell on the big issues. Better to pay attention to the people who are important to you”.
While the world goes crazy, focus on the small. Stay close to family and friends. Take care of those you love. Change to start, not the country, and your home. “In Russia, anything can happen. I’ll take care of the youngest and explain to them what is right and what is wrong — said Bogino. — Russia is not only Putin, the United States is not the only trump. The future of the country in the hands of its citizens.”
“So I will protect those who are important to me. I will explain to them that they have rights. And if we work together we will be stronger,” she says.
3. From the small grows big
Life in prison was harsh. Alyokhina along with other prisoners, was forced to 16 hours a day to take over the sewing shape. Beatings were commonplace. Beat prisoners loyal to the regime. 800 women had one toilet with five cubicles.
Alekhine responded by studying the Penal code. She started with small victories: won the right every day to wash my hair and right to see a lawyer, without going through a search with a full inspection. She organized a group of prisoners, and they protested against working conditions. The result of the working day was reduced to eight hours.
After her release she helped establish the independent news media “the Media” that observes injustice in the courts, police and prisons. “We started with a small project, but it has become one of the most popular media in the Russian Internet, she says. — In fact, it’s a small room in which there are very brave journalists who have chosen not to follow the state rate.”
Do not give in to fear and despair, she says. Every act of confrontation, even the smallest can change the world. “Everyone — activist or not — almost every day in a situation where he has to decide to give him a step or stand aside”.
4. With a little help from friends
“Hell is loneliness,” says Alyokhina. In 2012, when the police drove her from the chamber to the court, she saw through the window a crowd of people on the street. “They shouted: “We stand with Pussy Riot”. Only these words and gave us the power to speak in court. Without them, no support, no solidarity, we probably would have been in complete hell.”
A group of people is stronger than one person. According to Bogino, alone to fight harder. “If you join the group, this does not mean that you have to fully agree with all her ideas or 100% to share her opinions. However, this increases your chances to achieve the goal, she says. — Can’t stay alone. If to stick together, to win easier.”
5. Do not despair
In Russia for political activists every day is a struggle. Alekhine a few months looking for his punk band a place for performances. “It seems we were denied more than 50 spots because we are Pussy Riot. Every day you have to fight even for small things”.
However, the crowd gathered to protest against what I did with the Director Kirill Serebrennikov, gives her reason for hope. “They came here knowing that they can’t really change the situation, but they still came to support one person,” — said Alekhine.
Never despair, she said. “Every action and every decision change the system. Each of us can do a lot. To go to the demonstration. To engage in political art. To show others that we are not afraid and that we are not powerless,” says the activist.
Deep down, she is optimistic. To survive in the political Armageddon, it is necessary not to lose heart in spite of everything: “In Russia, if you can’t smile and overcome all the shit that’s going on around you, it means political suicide.”
I ask as she continue to smile. “It’s simple, she says. These are supported by lips and teeth”.
