The women said their protest was directed at the Orthodox Church leaders' support for Putin during his election campaign. The group's actions were condemned as sacrilegious by the Orthodox clergy and eventually stopped by church security officials.
The group gained global notoriety when five members of the group staged a performance inside Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on February 21, 2012.
The group's lyrical themes included feminism, LGBT rights, opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his policies, and Putin's links to the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church. These performances were filmed as music videos and posted on the internet. The group staged unauthorized, provocative guerrilla gigs in public places. Founded in August 2011, it has had a membership of approximately 11 women. Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist protest and performance art group based in Moscow that became popular for its provocative punk rock music which later turned into a more accessible style.
