Russia’s Pussy Riot Thank Green Day + Red Hot Chili Peppers in New Protest Video

Russian punk rock collective Pussy Riot have fired back at Russian President Vladimir Putin and the two-year prison sentence handed down to three Pussy Riot members in a new video message. The international music community has shown tremendous support for Pussy Riot, and the band has created a video of the masked female musicians thanking bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day, while burning a photo of Russia's President Putin.

Three Pussy Riot members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, have been convicted of "hooliganism" motivated by religious hatred, resulting in a sentence of two-years imprisonment. Despite the convictions, along with two additional Pussy Riot members reportedly fleeing Russia to avoid potential charges, Pussy Riot continue their solidarity, as seen in their new video message.

"We've been fighting for the right to sing, to think, to criticize, to be musicians and artists; ready to do everything to change our country, no matter the risks," begin Pussy Riot. "We go on with our musical fight in Russia, and our country is dominated by [an] evil man. This man [Putin] thinks it's illegal to call yourself a feminist, to sing punk music. This man thinks it's illegal to stand up for rights of the gay and lesbian community. This man thinks that you can't criticize your government. This man thinks that if you sing and dance in an inappropriate way, you get two years in prison."

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong addressed the issue while walking the red carpet of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards last night (Sept. 6). "I think it's just freedom of expression," Armstrong told MTV. "Always speak your mind, always speak the truth, no matter the cost."

Armstrong went on to say that Pussy Riot "remind me of old bands that we played with back in 1990, 1991," referring to the underground punk scene that Green Day were a part of back then.