Lucy Shtein Explained

Lucy Shtein
Birth Name:	Lyusya Shtein
Nationality:	Russian
Occupation:	Political activist
Organization:	Pussy Riot

Lucy (Lyusya) Shtein is a Russian activist and member of punk-rock collective Pussy Riot.

Activism and criminal charges

In 2021, Shtein was placed in house arrest in Moscow with her girlfriend, Maria Alyokhina, for supporting political prisoners in Russia.^{[1] [2]} A tracking bracelet mounted to her ankle was used to track Shtein while she remained under house arrest.^[3] Shtein, and later Alyokhina, used green food courier outfits to escape.^[4] Shtein also smuggled her pet rat in the food delivery bag.^{[5] [6]}

Shtein has spoken against laws in Russia that ban "LGBT propaganda",^[7] and in 2022 she and other members of Pussy Riot performed at the pride parade in St. Petersburg, Florida.^[8] In 2023, she and three other members of Pussy Riot protested the Ukraine war.^[9]

In November 2023 a court in Russia charged Shtein with sharing fake news about the Russian military.^{[10] [11]} In 2024, a Russian court sentenced her to six years in prison, in absentia, for posts on X in which she condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[12]

In response to Navalny's death in 2024, Pussy Riot members Shtein and Nadya Tolokonnikova took part in memorial action outside of the Russian Embassy in Berlin, along with Lyubov Sobol and Marina Ovsyannikova.^[13]

Personal life

Shtein has lived in Vilnius, Lithuania since her escape from Russia in 2022.^[14] In 2023 the government of Iceland granted Shtein Icelandic citizenship via parliamentary decree.^[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ramachandran . Naman . 2021-03-17 . Pussy Riot House Arrest Likely to be Extended, Case Hearing This Week . 2024-05-03 . Variety . en-US.
2. News: Harding . Luke . 2021-03-17 . Prominent supporters of Alexei Navalny face ‘indefinite’ house arrest . 2024-05-03 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
3. Web site: Joffre . Tzvi . 2022-05-16 . Pussy Riot member placed on Russian wanted list after escape . 2024-05-17 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en.
4. News: Hopkins . Valerie . Friedman . Misha . 2022-05-10 . Leader of Pussy Riot Band Escapes Russia, With Help From Friends . 2024-05-03 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
5. News: Sauer . Pjotr . 2022-05-11 . ‘It was foolproof’: Pussy Riot activist tells of courier-suit escape from Russia . 2024-05-03 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
6. News: Ebel . Francesca . June 1, 2022 . With her PlayStation and her pet rat: how one member of Pussy Riot fled Russia . 2024-05-03 . The Economist . 0013-0613.
7. News: Ebel . Francesca . 2022-11-24 . Russia advances bill to criminalize ‘promoting’ LGBTQ relationships . 2024-05-16 . Washington Post . en-US . 0190-8286.
8. News: Wynne . Sharon Kennedy . 2022-05-20 . St. Pete Pride makes starry return . 2024-05-16 . Tampa Bay Times . A3.
9. News: Dixon . Robyn . 2023-12-04 . In second act, Russian activist group Pussy Riot protests Ukraine war . 2024-05-16 . Washington Post . en-US . 0190-8286.
10. Web site: 2023-11-07 . Exiled Pussy Riot Member Arrested in Absentia for ‘War Fakes’ . 2024-05-16 . The Moscow Times . en.
11. News: Morris-Grant . Brianna . 2023-11-07 . Pussy Riot member Lucy Shtein fled Russia dressed as a delivery driver — she's now on an international wanted list . 2024-05-17 . ABC News . en-AU.
12. Web site: 27 March 2024 . Russia sentences Pussy Riot activist to six years in absentia for Ukraine "war fakes" . 3 May 2024 . Reuters . en-US.
13. Web site: 18 Feb 2024 . Pussy Riot Members, Others Honor Navalny At Berlin Memorial Event . 3 May 2024 . Radio Free Europe . en-US.
14. News: 17 February 2024 . Russian emigres gather across Europe to mourn Navalny . Cyprus Mail; Nicosia . Proquest.
15. Web site: Tómas . Ragnar . 2023-05-10 . Two Members of Pussy Riot to Receive Icelandic Citizenship . 2024-05-16 . Iceland Review . en-US.