Pussy Riot has staged a new protest, hanging rainbow flags outside several government buildings and landmarks on October 7, as a “gift” to Vladimir Putin on his birthday. The flags were intended to be a “symbol of missing love and freedom” in Russia, the group explains in an accompanying statement.

Appearing outside sites including the headquarters of Russia’s security agency, the administration of the president, the Culture Ministry, and a police station on Wednesday morning, the flags were also intended to highlight the country’s treatment of LGBTQ+ people.

Pussy Riot particularly point to anti-LGBT persecution in Chechnya (a region that has seen waves of abuse and illegal detainment against gay and bisexual people over the last few years) and the state’s passing of transphobic laws.

In addition, the group has published a list of demands directed at the Russian government and Putin himself, stating: “The state should not interfere in life of the LGBTQ community, but if it does, then the community can intervene in the life of the state.”

Among the seven demands are the legalisation of same-sex partnerships, an investigation into the killings and kidnappings of queer people in Chechnya, and the ending of discriminatory legislation. They also propose making Putin’s birthday “LGBTQ visibility day”.

According to Pussy Riot, two journalists were detained while documenting the action. Earlier this year, Pussy Riot activists have also had run-ins with police for breaching Russia’s law against spreading so-called “gay propaganda”, and for wearing a police uniform to parody Moscow’s coronavirus response.

View more images of the rainbow flag action, and the full list of demands from Pussy Riot, in the post below.