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Cossacks Attack Pussy Riot In Sochi

A Cossack militiaman attacks Nadezhda Tolokonnikova as she and fellow members of the punk group Pussy Riot, including Maria Alyokhina (center, in the pink balaclava), stage a protest performance in Sochi, Russia, on February 19.
1/7 A Cossack militiaman attacks Nadezhda Tolokonnikova as she and fellow members of the punk group Pussy Riot, including Maria Alyokhina (center, in the pink balaclava), stage a protest performance in Sochi, Russia, on February 19.
Cossacks attacked the Pussy Riot punk group with whips and pepper spray on February 19 as the group tried to perform under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics. The group had gathered to perform in a downtown Sochi restaurant, about 30 kilometers from where the Winter Olympics are being held. They left the restaurant wearing bright dresses and ski masks and had only been performing for a few seconds when they were set upon by Cossacks.
A Cossack attacks Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and a photographer as she and fellow members of the punk group Pussy Riot stage a protest performance in Sochi.
2/7 A Cossack attacks Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and a photographer as she and fellow members of the punk group Pussy Riot stage a protest performance in Sochi.
Cossacks attacked the Pussy Riot punk group with whips and pepper spray on February 19 as the group tried to perform under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics. The group had gathered to perform in a downtown Sochi restaurant, about 30 kilometers from where the Winter Olympics are being held. They left the restaurant wearing bright dresses and ski masks and had only been performing for a few seconds when they were set upon by Cossacks.
3/7
Cossacks attacked the Pussy Riot punk group with whips and pepper spray on February 19 as the group tried to perform under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics. The group had gathered to perform in a downtown Sochi restaurant, about 30 kilometers from where the Winter Olympics are being held. They left the restaurant wearing bright dresses and ski masks and had only been performing for a few seconds when they were set upon by Cossacks.
A member of Pussy Riot lies on the ground as the group are attacked by Cossack militia.
4/7 A member of Pussy Riot lies on the ground as the group are attacked by Cossack militia.
Cossacks attacked the Pussy Riot punk group with whips and pepper spray on February 19 as the group tried to perform under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics. The group had gathered to perform in a downtown Sochi restaurant, about 30 kilometers from where the Winter Olympics are being held. They left the restaurant wearing bright dresses and ski masks and had only been performing for a few seconds when they were set upon by Cossacks.
5/7
Cossacks attacked the Pussy Riot punk group with whips and pepper spray on February 19 as the group tried to perform under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics. The group had gathered to perform in a downtown Sochi restaurant, about 30 kilometers from where the Winter Olympics are being held. They left the restaurant wearing bright dresses and ski masks and had only been performing for a few seconds when they were set upon by Cossacks.
A member of Pussy Riot is restrained by Cossacks after the attack.
6/7 A member of Pussy Riot is restrained by Cossacks after the attack.
Cossacks attacked the Pussy Riot punk group with whips and pepper spray on February 19 as the group tried to perform under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics. The group had gathered to perform in a downtown Sochi restaurant, about 30 kilometers from where the Winter Olympics are being held. They left the restaurant wearing bright dresses and ski masks and had only been performing for a few seconds when they were set upon by Cossacks.
A member of Pussy Riot is restrained by a Cossack after the attack in Sochi.
7/7 A member of Pussy Riot is restrained by a Cossack after the attack in Sochi.
Cossacks attacked the Pussy Riot punk group with whips and pepper spray on February 19 as the group tried to perform under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics. The group had gathered to perform in a downtown Sochi restaurant, about 30 kilometers from where the Winter Olympics are being held. They left the restaurant wearing bright dresses and ski masks and had only been performing for a few seconds when they were set upon by Cossacks.
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Members of the Russian performance-art group Pussy Riot were attacked by Cossacks in Sochi.

Former prison inmates Nadezhda Tolokonnikova said on Twitter that Cossacks attacked the group on February 19 as it performed a song criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin near the Sochi Olympics banner.

Video showed the Cossacks whipping group members and spraying them with pepper gas.

Maria Alyokhina posted pictures on Twitter of her chest showing bruising.

Tolokonnikova's husband, Pyotr Verzilov, said he was taken to a hospital after getting pepper gas in his eyes.

WATCH: Pussy Riot performers whipped by Cossacks in Sochi.

The activities of Cossacks, a traditional Russian military force, are sometimes approved by the authorities to boost security.

The attack came a day after Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were detained by police in Sochi for several hours, allegedly in connection with a theft case.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP
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