Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova goes on hunger strike following “slave like” prison conditions

Jailed Pussy Riot member and political activist, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has embarked on a hunger strike to protest the harsh treatment she’s received in serving her controversial sentence.

In an open letter, the punk musician describes being forced to work for up to 17 hours a day, with only one day off in six weeks.

She continues:

“I will not remain silent, resigned to watch as my fellow prisoners collapse under the strain of slavery-like conditions. I demand that the colony administration respect human rights; I demand that the Mordovia camp function in accordance with the law. I demand that we be treated like human beings, not slaves.”

Fellow imprisoned member, Maria Alyokhina also took a hunger strike vow recently in a protest against a Russian court’s refusal to let her attend her parole hearing.

Last year, the three members of the punk band were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” and were sentenced to two years in jail following the performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The song requested that the Virgin Mary drive Russian president Vladimir Putin from power.

Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24 and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, have been named prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. Samutsevich was released in October.

Read the full letter here.

[via FACT]