Pussy Riot issue statement on band member Peter Verzilov’s poisoning

Written by Maya-Rose Torrão

Pyotr Verzilov, one of four members of anti-Kremlin punk activist group Pussy Riot who were arrested during the second half of the world cup final for their pitch invasion protest, was rushed to hospital on Saturday night after falling ill on the Tuesday prior, following a court hearing. Verzilov began to lose his vision and the ability to walk and talk and is currently in the care of Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin hospital.

Pussy Riot have now issued an official press release today regarding Verzilov’s condition via Gold Atlas PR. Composed by Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokonnikova and the Berlin doctors involved in Verzilov’s recovery, the press release explains that the poisoned band member has regained consciousness but is too disorientated to issue a comment. The statement also explains the outcome of the press conference held today by German doctors from Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin hospital, Prof. Dr. Karl Max Einhäupl (CEO) and Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Eckardt, which was that they believed that Verzilov had been poisoned.

The press release also expressed the relief that Pussy Riot felt about Verzilov being moved over to the hospital in Germany. Describing the Berlin hospital, Tolokonnikova explains:

“Treatment here is dramatically more humane. In Moscow Peter was tied up with his arms and legs to the bed – to prevent panic attacks, according to the doctors there. We believe tying somebody up can only cause panic attacks, not prevent them. Peter is free to move here in Charité. Doctors are open, they have nothing to hide from relatives, they let us be with Peter 24 hours a day, and they share with us every piece of information they find.”