Photo Credit: Vivianne Navarette

Rita Flores, formerly of Pussy Riot, tells the story of her recruitment and handling from the Russian FSB security service. As reported by The Guardian, Flores had to cooperate for three years until she fled the country last month. 

The Guardian states, in her first media interview since leaving Russia, that “For the first time in years, I feel calm. All this time I was dreaming about getting out and being able to talk about it all.” Flores was hounded by FSB agents who made multiple threats to her life and the lives of her loved ones in an effort to gather information on other artists who speak against the Russian government. 

Flores is not the first and won’t be the last to be exploited by the FSB. The accounts from Flores tell the story of an organization who instructs its agents to use the things a person holds dearest in life imperil. As a result of Pussy Riot’s acts of political protest, Flores had been detained several times and dealt with police searches as well. 

It was after one of these searches in 2023 that she was recruited by the FSB. Cash rewards and a threat to her family were made, showcasing that there isn’t a line they wouldn’t cross and they would do anything desperate to convince a person to comply, even if it meant involving innocent people. 

Artists such as Rita Flores and of course Pussy Riot use music as expression but also as a tool to battle against everyday tyranny that makes its rounds in the world. Artists and musicians do their part to spark positive change in the world so that the children of tomorrow don’t have to endure abuse from people in false places of power, much like Flores was subjected to. Pussy Riot’s album CYKA was recently released in June of 2026. Read our album review!