You're reading: Pussy Riot-like stunt averted in Finland

Helsinki - Security has been tightened in all Orthodox churches in Finland over possible provocations like the stunt perpetrated by the Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot.

“Тeivo Teivainen, professor of international policy at the Helsinki
University, tried to repeat the Pussy Riot stunt in the Helsinki
Assumption Cathedral over the past weekend, but was barred from the
church,” Finnish human rights activist Johan Backman told Interfax on
Monday.

After that, Teivainen organized a performance by Finnish girls in the
street near the church. The girls demanded the release of the Pussy
Riot women and freedom to sexual minorities in Russia.

“The attempt to conduct a concert in the Assumption Cathedral was
part of the ‘lecture walk’ around Helsinki organized by the Helsinki
University and the Finnish Museum of Contemporary Art,” Backman said.

“However, the Finnish Pussy Riot activists were barred from the church. Apparently, someone warned the priests,” Backman said.