Pussy Riot Takes a Stand Against Tech Company They Claim Is Fueling Russian War Crimes
The masked Russian punk feminist collective Pussy Riot has been making waves once again, this time with a protest at the Manhattan offices of tech company Ubiquiti. The group claims that Ubiquiti's Wi-Fi equipment is being used by Russian soldiers in their ongoing war against Ukraine. According to group founder Nadya Tolokonnikova, the Russian military is allegedly using Ubiquiti to communicate with front line troops, making the company complicit in "Russian war crimes."
Tolokonnikova posted a video statement over the weekend, where she jokingly suggested that Russian fighters were considering using doves to carry their messages after Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service was cut off. However, she claims that Russian soldiers have since begun using Ubiquiti products, and provided images to back up her claim. The group is demanding that Ubiquiti obey U.S. sanctions against providing help to the Russian cause, acknowledge that their equipment is being used by Russian forces, and work with Ukraine to stop its use.
The protest outside Ubiquiti's Manhattan offices was just the beginning, with the group taking to social media to share their demands. Hours after the action, they reported that their Square account had been deactivated, which they claim was a response from Ubiquiti's payment processing partner.
The global reach of Afrobeats and Nollywood has made it easier for artists like Pussy Riot to connect with international audiences, but their activism often carries a universal message that transcends borders. In this case, Pussy Riot's protest against Ubiquiti highlights the complex web of technology and war, where a single company's equipment can be used to fuel conflict. By taking a stand against Ubiquiti, Pussy Riot is using their platform to demand accountability and action from corporations that may be unwittingly contributing to global instability.
