Former Pussy Riot member Rita Flores reveals how she was turned into an FSB agent
Former Pussy Riot member Rita Flores revealed that she was threatened and forced into becoming an informant by Russia's FSB agency in 2023, detailing a plot against a prominent Kremlin critic.
Rita Flores, a former member of the Pussy Riot art collective, has revealed how she was turned into an agent by Russia's FSB intelligence service through death threats and blackmail, forced to provide information on fellow activists, and fled the country in August.
The Process Beginning with Blackmail and Threats
Twenty-nine-year-old Russian artist and activist Rita Flores stated that she was introduced to FSB officers following a police search of her home in February 2023. She stated that she was forced to cooperate under wartime censorship laws and threats that her mother could be killed.
Stating that her fear was overwhelming, Flores noted that she was forced to sign cooperation paperwork as a result of these pressures and was given a small, one-off payment.
Informant Duties for the FSB
Directed by FSB officers, Flores was first asked to gather information on dissident artists. She tried to fulfill these tasks with the help of individuals she regularly met with.
The artist stated that she manufactured fake disputes to avoid harming targeted individuals and thus tried to protect her friends.
The Plot Against Pyotr Verzilov
In May of last year, FSB agents began asking questions about Pyotr Verzilov, a Kremlin critic fighting in the Ukrainian army. The officers demanded that she use her former friendship to arrange a meeting with Verzilov in Serbia.
It was stated that this plan aimed for Verzilov to be killed by an FSB team, and in addition, a regular monthly payment was offered.
Escape from the Country and Disclosures
Marrying last September in order to escape the Serbian mission, Flores tried to get out of this demand by claiming her husband would not allow her to meet with another man.
Successfully fleeing Russia in late August with the help of her lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov, Flores shared her experiences publicly to encourage others in similar situations.