Pussy Riot To Speak At Cambridge Union

Pussy Riot To Speak At Cambridge Union
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (L) and Maria Alyokhina (R) of Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot arrive for the Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin, on February 10, 2014. Cinema for Peace is a worldwide initiative, promoting humanity through film and takes place amongst others on the sidelines of the Berlinale International Film Festival. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE (Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (L) and Maria Alyokhina (R) of Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot arrive for the Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin, on February 10, 2014. Cinema for Peace is a worldwide initiative, promoting humanity through film and takes place amongst others on the sidelines of the Berlinale International Film Festival. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE (Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
JOHANNES EISELE via Getty Images

Members of the Russian feminist protest group Pussy Riot are to speak at the Cambridge Union in November, which has previously played host to figures such as Julian Assange and Ronald Reagan.

The union said it was "incredibly proud" to be able to offer its members the opportunity to listen to and question the group.

"The Cambridge Union makes a point of inviting people to speak if they are influential, have been in the news, or have unique or interesting perspectives and experiences," president Tim Squirrell told The Huffington Post UK.

"The members of Pussy Riot fit all of criteria."

Earlier this year, members of the group were violently attacked by Cossack guards at the Sochi Winter Olympics, after donning their trademark balaclavas and attempting to perform a song in a public square.

Members of the group are attacked with whips in Sochi

Although Pussy Riot has a variable membership, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina are the public faces of the group - both of whom were arrested in Sochi.

Squirrell added it was "fantastic" to have a headliner who "isn't just a celebrity".

"We don't know exactly what they will talk about, but we think our members will likely ask to hear about their political activism, human rights in Russia, the time they spent in prison and their take on freedom of expression and censorship," he continued.

It's not the first time the group has been involved with universities; earlier this month, two members penned an open letter to the president of Harvard criticising a ban against alumnus Roman J. Torgovitsky - after he staged an anti-Putin protest during a concert at the institution.

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