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Russian punk rockers Pussy Riot book 2 May appearances in Israel

Two members of the collective will perform at the International Writers Festival and Barby Tel Aviv

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Israeli Shifra Kornfeld (left) and Olga Borisova of Pussy Riot, the Russian feminist punk rock band that will play Tel Aviv's Barby after appearing at the Mishkenot Sha'ananim International Writers Festival on May 8 (Courtesy Mishkenot Sha'ananim)
Israeli Shifra Kornfeld (left) and Olga Borisova of Pussy Riot, the Russian feminist punk rock band that will play Tel Aviv's Barby after appearing at the Mishkenot Sha'ananim International Writers Festival on May 8 (Courtesy Mishkenot Sha'ananim)

Some fans of Russian punk rock feminist band Pussy Riot are tweeting BDS protests against the appearance of two members in Tel Aviv’s Barby club on May 16, which follows their attendance at the annual International Writers Festival at Jerusalem’s Mishkenot Sha’ananim cultural center outside the Old City.

Maria Alyokhina and Olga Borisova, two of the collective’s members, will open the three-day event on May 8 and perform a piece called “The Authors’ Revolt.” It’s based on Alyokhina’s book, “Riot Days,” which describes her time served in prison for public activism. She will also have a conversation with lawmaker Merav Michaeli about the book during the course of the festival.

Alyokhina and Borisova will be joined at the Writers Festival event by other Israeli musicians and DJs.

Pussy Riot was founded in 2011 and became famous for its opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, as well as its songs about feminism and LGBT rights.

Some of the band’s fans are disappointed by their planned appearance in Israel:

So far, none of the Pussy Riot members have responded to the BDS comments.

Tickets for the Mishkenot Sha’ananim event cost NIS 50; seating on the lawn of Gan Yael, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets for Pussy Riot at Barby Tel Aviv cost NIS 150; May 16, doors open at 8:30 p.m.

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