A former member of the Pussy Riot collective claims she was recruited by Russian security services to spy on fellow activists and report on protest-minded artists.
Rita Flores, a 29-year-old Russian artist and former member of the Pussy Riot collective, described her three-year collaboration with officers from Russia’s FSB security service in a video discussion with her lawyer published in late August. She said she was recruited after an FSB-led police search in February 2023, during which she was threatened with a criminal case and the potential death of her mother if she did not cooperate.
Flores was given a one-time cash payment of 30,000 to 40,000 roubles for signing cooperation papers. Her initial tasks included gathering information about other opposition-minded artists and reporting back to the FSB. She described her handlers as using a psychological pressure tactic, alternating between friendly and threatening behavior to maintain control.
Why it matters
Flores’s account highlights the FSB’s tactics in infiltrating opposition groups and the personal risks faced by activists in Russia.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
The FSB’s response to public revelations about its infiltration of opposition groups and potential legal actions against Flores.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.