Russian punk band Pussy Riot has claimed responsibility for a protest that briefly interrupted the FIFA World Cup Final in Moscow on Sunday, saying they staged the disruption as objection to Vladimir Putin’s political arrests at protests.
Early in the second half of the match, four people dressed as police officers ran onto the pitch, with one high-fiving a French midfielder before being tackled by security and carried off the field. In a statement in Russian posted to their Twitter account, Pussy Riot claimed responsibility, saying the protesters were dressed as cops to attack arrests made at political protests in Russia and to demand fair elections.
Streakers and Pitch invasion at the @FIFAWorldCup Final between Croatia and France. #FIFAWorldCup @FIFAcom #Worldcupfinal #Streakers #Pitchinvasion pic.twitter.com/RD1UEquGLj
– Reece M (@Reecefm) July 15, 2018
МОЛНИЯ! Прямо сейчас — четверо участников Pussy Riot в финале Чемпионата Мира по футболу: “Миллиционер вступает в игру” на поле Чемпионата Мира! https://t.co/sfYG9oyoDb pic.twitter.com/0jYVIZKdyC
— ??-???-???-???-???-? ??—??-???-“??-? (@pussyrrriot) July 15, 2018
Pussy Riot has earned global notoriety for its repeated protests against Putin and in support of women’s and LGBT rights. In 2012, three of the band’s members were arrested after a protest in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior against the Russian Orthodox Church’s support of Putin. They were sentenced to two years in prison.
Recently, the band has turned their music and work towards Donald Trump, releasing a music video called “Make America Great Again” two weeks before Trump’s victory in the 2016 election.
After the protest, France went on to defeat Croatia 4-2 to win the country’s second World Cup.