Pussy Riot have shared a new song, “Rage”, calling for the release of Russia’s political prisoners. 

The track comes amid a surge of protests following the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on January 17, and just days after Pussy Riot member Masha Alekhina was arrested during demonstrations.

In the YouTube description for “Rage”, Pussy Riot call for the release of Navalny and Alekhina, ask “the police to stop beating the protesters and stand together with us”, and tell “Putin and his team to leave the Kremlin ASAP”.

Addressing authorities, Pussy Riot sing, “We’re those who annoy you today / We’re getting stronger and it makes you angry”. The group also reference police brutality: “Police baton on my ribs / I’m singing with blood today”.

At the end of the video, Pussy Riot reveal that while filming the video for “Rage” in St. Petersburg, they were accused of creating “gay propaganda”. The group allege that the police cut off the electricity and heating and detained 13 people. The clip then shows an officer interrogating them.

“Rage” arrives as nationwide protests sweep Russia. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets over the past two weeks, showing support for Navalny and criticising president Vladimir Putin. They have been met with brutal tactics by police, and over 5,000 people have been arrested across 85 cities.

Navalny has been accused of breaking probation rules, which require him to report regularly to Russian police following his 2014 suspended sentence for embezzlement. His lawyer’s say the allegations are absurd, as Navalny was recovering in Berlin after a nerve agent attack that nearly killed him – something he claims Putin is responsible for.

“I fell into a coma, then came round, left hospital, contacted my lawyer, and sent you a document stating where I was,” Navalny told the court today (February 2). “Of course I wasn’t at home! What more could I do?”

Watch the video for “Rage” above.