'Free Pussy Riot Fest' Flouts Officials' Warnings

St. Petersburg officials warned against it, but supporters of Pussy Riot held a fundraising concert in the band's honor anyway. Some 1,000 people attended the "Free Pussy Riot Fest" in Vladimir Putin's native city, even after firefighters said they'd shut down the hall over safety violations. Two other Russian protest bands, DDT and Trevizor, headlined a show surrounded by riot police. "In 1992, we participated in a festival against political repression," said DDT's frontman. "Twenty years have passed, but it seems almost nothing has changed."

Four people were detained after the gig for jaywalking, the AP reports. Pussy Riot and other jailed activists will receive the proceeds from the show. Meanwhile, a new batch of activists are in trouble with Russia's government: Pussy Riot's lawyers. Two are set to be questioned by officials, RT reports. Authorities say the interrogation is over their involvement in a protest on May 6 that resulted in 400 people being detained. But other activists were interrogated earlier, says one of the lawyers; this summons has more to do with his work for the band, he says. (More Russia stories.)