Nadezhda Tolokonnikova is a Russian political activist and member of the punk rock collective Pussy Riot. Tolokonnikovia began her activism as part of the art collective Voina, which staged artistic acts protesting Putin’s government. As part of Pussy Riot, she took part in an impromptu performance in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, for which she was convicted of “hooliganism.” Tolokonnikovia served 21 months in a Russian prison camp before her release in December 2013. She recently launched a new project with bandmate Maria Alyokhina that focuses on the rights of Russian prisoners. She continues to take part in protests, and has been arrested and beaten for her activism since her release from jail.