8 May 2019 19:03

Pussy Riot's Nikulshina detained in Moscow -associates

MOSCOW. May 8 (Interfax) - Pussy Riot member Veronika Nikulshina has been detained in Moscow, Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the group, told Interfax.

"Policemen detained Nikulshina and her four friends at their flat," Verzilov said.

The activist was visiting her friends' apartment on Petrovka Street, the police came there in a few hours, he said. Law enforcement offices checked the documents of the people present in the flat and said afterwards that they were conducting an inquiry into the damage of "some state property" in which the young people may be involved.

"After that, all of them were taken to the Tverskoi police station, where they have been just convoyed to," Verzikov said.

"Policemen did not explain on what the grounds Nikulshina and four more people present in the flat were taken to the police station," he said.

The police also did not clarify what property has been damaged, Verzilov said.

Interfax does not yet have official information from the law enforcement agencies.

Nikulshina is a participant in Pussy Riot's performances.

On July 15, 2018, Nikulshina, Olga Pakhtusova, Olga Kurachyova, and Verzilov, wearing police uniforms, invaded the football pitch 50 minutes into the World Cup France-Croatia final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

All of them were detained and sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest.