Photo: BEImages/Jim Smeal.This has been a long time coming, folks. Shortly after three members of Pussy Riot were arrested for protesting in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Madonna made a dramatic statement of support during a concert in the same city. In some respects, it was a pop/political match made in heaven.
Now, the Material Girl will join two of the recently freed members, Nadezhda "Nadya" Tolokonnikova and Maria "Masha" Alekhina, on stage at Amnesty International's Bringing Human Rights Home concert, closing the circle. Alas, neither Madge nor Pussy Riot will be performing during the show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on February 5. Tolokonnikova, Alekhina, and their bandmate, Yekaterina Samutsevich, have decided to put music behind them and focus on other methods of advocacy. Madonna will just be there to introduce Alekhina and Tolokonnikova, before they give a speech to the crowd. Still, it should be a rather beautiful moment.
"I am honored to introduce my fellow freedom fighters Masha and Nadya from Pussy Riot," Madonna said in a statement. "I have admired their courage and have long supported their commitment and the sacrifices they have made in the name of freedom of expression and human rights."