Pyotr Verzilov

Born in Moscow,{{cite web|script-title=ru:Верзилов Петр Юрьевич |trans-title=Verzilov Petr Yurievich |url=http://compass.cvk2012.org/candidates/?ID=5e309304-c8ee-4a5e-9ff1-30c78b6189a9 |language=Russian |website=compass.cvk2012.org/candidates |date=12 May 2013}} Verzilov lived in Canada as a boy, attending school in Toronto between 1999 and 2003. He returned to Russia to complete his school education, then studied philosophy at Moscow State University.{{cite news|last=Narizhnaya|first=Khristina|title=Husband of Pussy Riot member says they'll revisit Canada|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2012/08/19/husband_of_pussy_riot_member_says_theyll_revisit_canada.html|accessdate=2 March 2013|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=19 August 2012}} "I always saw my future in Russia. I am a Russian man. I am inspired by the Russian language, the Russian reality," he later told the Toronto Star. However, because of his residency Verzilov obtained a Canadian passport and residency rights.{{cite news|last=Adams|first=Joanna|title=Pussy Riot: Nadezhda Tolokonnikova's Husband Pyotr Verzilov Says Canadian Connection Puts Band at Risk|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/08/18/pussy-riot-pyotr-verzilov-canada_n_1803475.html|accessdate=7 March 2013|newspaper=Huffington Post (Canada)|date=18 August 2012}}

File:Verzilov.jpg

Verzilov met Nadezhda Tolokonnikova at university. They both became known for outrageous art performances as part of the performance art group Voina.{{cite news|last=Malpas|first=Anna|title=Pussy Riot women disown husband as group's spokesman|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2012/Oct-12/191169-pussy-riot-women-disown-husband-as-groups-spokesman.ashx#axzz2JPtMhSNn|accessdate=2 March 2013|newspaper=The Daily Star|location=Lebanon|date=12 October 2012}} This included filming public sex acts in a Moscow biological museum to protest the President's call for increased reproduction, in 2008, when his wife was heavily pregnant. After Voina split in 2009, the Saint Petersburg faction accused Verzilov of being a police informer.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} Verzilov later described these accusations as "lies – brutal, old lies", blaming them on the "very nasty breakup" of Voina.

In July 2010, at the conclusion of a trial of two art gallery curators in a Moscow court, Verzilov reportedly burst in and released a bag of live cockroaches.{{cite news|last=Judah|first=Ben|title=Russian curators anger church, but escape jail|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-artists-verdict-odd-idUSTRE66B53J20100713|accessdate=7 March 2013|work=Reuters|date=13 July 2010}}

Verzilov took part in the Euromaidan protest in Kyiv (Ukraine) in December 2013.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25182823 Why do Ukraine protests matter?], BBC News (3 December 2013)[http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/episode/2013/12/02/monday-2/ 2 December 2013 episode] of As It Happens, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2 December 2013)

Verzilov's former wife Nadezhda Tolokonnikova is a member of the Russian feminist punk rock group Pussy Riot who, in February 2012, staged a protest inside the Moscow Cathedral. On 17 August, Tolokonnikova and two other members were sentenced to two years' imprisonment for 'hooliganism'.{{cite news|title=Pussy Riot members jailed for two years for hooliganism|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19297373|accessdate=3 March 2013|work=BBC News|date=17 August 2012}} Subsequent to their arrest and imprisonment Verzilov became a prominent representative and spokesperson for Pussy Riot.{{cite news|title=Putin is deciding this trial: Verzilov (TV interview)|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3565597.htm|accessdate=7 March 2013|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 August 2012}}

He lobbied the singer Madonna for support prior to her 2012 Moscow concert.{{cite news|title=Pussy Riot turns into squabble for money|url=http://english.pravda.ru/russia/politics/02-11-2012/122696-pussy_riot-0/|accessdate=3 March 2013|publisher=Pravda.ru|date=2 November 2012}} On 14 September 2012, Verzilov was interviewed by the BBC's Zeinab Badawi for the HARDtalk programme.{{cite web|title=Pyotr Verzilov – Russian artist and political activist|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mmlvm|work=HARDtalk|publisher=BBC News Channel|accessdate=3 March 2013}} In September that year, Verzilov accepted the LennonOno grant for peace from Yoko Ono, on behalf of Pussy Riot, at a ceremony in New York.{{cite news|title=Yoko Ono bestows peace grant on Pussy Riot|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/21/yoko-ono-bestows-peace-grant-on-pussy-riot/|accessdate=3 March 2013|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=21 September 2012}}

However, in October 2012, the jailed Pussy Riot members published a letter, via their lawyer, disowning Verzilov as their spokesman. They said he had "seized representation and decision-making of Pussy Riot" and had misrepresented their views. "The only person who can legitimately represent the group is a girl in a balaclava," they stated. Verzilov's actions were "treacherous to punk."

He is also among the founders of news website MediaZona, which since 2014 has reported critically on the legal system and law enforcement practice.{{cite web |url=https://hybridtechcar.com/2018/09/13/participant-pussy-riot-peter-verzilov-was-in-intensive-care-with-symptoms-of-poisoning/ |title=Participant Pussy Riot Peter Verzilov was in intensive care with symptoms of poisoning |publisher=HybridTechcar.com |date=13 September 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/andrei-muchnik/revolution-brings-back-pussy-riot-songs |title="Riot Days" brings back Pussy Riot songs |publisher=openDemocracy |first=Andrei |last=Muchnik |date=19 July 2017}}

In mid-July 2018, along with Veronika Nikulshina, Olga Pakhtusova and Olga Kurachyova, he was jailed for 15 days after invading the pitch wearing fake police uniforms during the World Cup final. The judge also banned the four from attending sports events for three years.{{cite news|title=Pussy Riot pitch invaders jailed 15 days |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/world/pussy-riot-pitch-invaders-jailed-15-days |work=Otaga Daily Times |date=17 July 2018 |accessdate=15 September 2018}} On 21 June 2020, Verzilov was taken from his apartment and held by anti-extremist police.[https://pitchfork.com/news/pussy-riot-member-seized-by-police-and-accused-of-organizing-riots/ Pussy Riot Member Seized by Police and Accused of Organizing Riots] pitchfork.com, accessed 11 September 2020

In 2021, Verzilov was named a foreign agent by the Russian government, without listing a reason.{{Cite web |title=The Ministry of Justice recognized Pyotr Verzilov and OVD-info as foreign agents|url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/794353 |access-date=2023-09-23 |date=2021-09-29 |website=Interfax}}

In April 2022, Verzilov accompanied to Rome the wives of the fighters of the Azov Regiment who found themselves barricaded in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The group was campaigning to save the fighters from the siege. Among them is also Kateryna Prokopenko, wife of commander Denys Prokopenko.{{Cite web |url=https://www.corriere.it/esteri/22_aprile_28/ucraina-moglie-capo-reggimento-azov-f36f9f86-c6e9-11ec-9886-30033cb6ccfe.shtml |title=Ucraina, a Roma la moglie del capo del reggimento Azov: "Non siamo nazisti, ecco come si vive nell'acciaieria" |date=2022-04-28 |website=corriere.it}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.secoloditalia.it/2022/04/le-mogli-dei-combattenti-di-azov-in-tv-dietro-loperazione-ce-lex-agente-delle-pussy-riot/ |title=Le mogli dei combattenti di Azov in tv. Dietro l'operazione c'è l'ex agente delle Pussy Riot |website=secoloditalia.it|date=30 April 2022 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/personaggi/31394342/battaglione-azov-chi-portato-mogli-nazisti-ucraini-italia-propaganda.html |title=Battaglione Azov, chi ha portato le moglie dei "nazisti ucraini" in Italia. "E' la prova della propaganda" |website=liberoquotidiano.it}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/mondo/azov_roma_mogli_battaglione_mariupol_acciaieria_nazisti_cosa_ha_detto_ultime_notizie-6656457.html |title=Kateryna Prokopenko, la moglie del comandante della Brigata Azov: "Denis resiste, ma senza più speranze" |website=ilmessaggero.it|date=28 April 2022 }} Days after they also met Pope Francis in Vatican City.{{Cite web |url=https://www.corriere.it/esteri/22_maggio_11/mogli-dell-azov-vedono-papa-ci-aiuti-salvare-nostri-mariti-bb485c70-d101-11ec-b465-8b7c23727ee0.shtml |title=Le mogli del reggimento Azov vedono Papa Francesco: "Ci aiuti a salvare i nostri mariti" |website=corriere.it |date=5 November 2022 |trans-title=The wives of the Azov regiment see Pope Francis: "Help us save our husbands"}}

In December 2022, Verzilov and other members of Pussy Riot were detained at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for attempting to storm the field to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine, imprisonment of Alexei Navalny, and to bring attention to Women's rights in Iran.{{Cite web |title=Pussy Riot Activists Detained at World Cup Final|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/12/19/pussy-riot-activists-detained-at-world-cup-final-a79732 |access-date=2023-09-23 |date=2022-12-19 |website=The Moscow Times}}{{Cite web |title=Pussy Riot members detained at World Cup final, activists say|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/pussy-riot-members-detained-world-cup-final-activists-say-2022-12-19/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |date=2022-12-18 |website=Reuters}}

In 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Verzilov for reporting information and photos about the Bucha massacre in Ukraine on his social media.{{Cite web |title=Moscow Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Pyotr Verzilov Over War Fakes|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/03/27/moscow-court-issues-arrest-warrant-for-pyotr-verzilov-over-war-fakes-a80628 |access-date=2023-09-23 |date=2023-03-27 |website=The Moscow Times}} In November 2023, Verzilov was sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in prison for spreading "fake" news.{{cite news |title=Russia Jails Activist Pyotr Verzilov in Absentia Following Retrial |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/04/02/russia-jails-activist-pyotr-verzilov-in-absentia-following-retrial-a84709 |work=The Moscow Times |date=2 April 2024}}

On 12 September 2018, it was reported by the media that Verzilov had been hospitalized and was in critical condition in a toxicological department of the Bakhrushin City Clinical Hospital in Moscow. Doctors at the clinic suggested an overdose or poisoning with anticholinergic drugs, which are used to treat a variety of conditions, including dizziness, ulcers, insomnia, and asthma. His relatives suspected poisoning to be the cause, saying that he didn't take such medicine.{{cite news |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2018/09/13/doctors-reportedly-suspect-pussy-riot-member-pyotr-verzilov-was-poisoned-with-a-neurotransmitter-blocking-medicine |title=Doctors reportedly suspect Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov was poisoned with a neurotransmitter-blocking medicine |publisher=Meduza |date=13 September 2018}}{{cite news|title='First it was his vision, then his speech, and then his legs' Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov is hospitalized in critical condition and friends fear he was poisoned |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/09/12/first-it-was-his-vision-then-his-speech-and-then-his-legs |work=Meduza |date=12 September 2018 |accessdate=15 September 2018}} The hospitalization took place just after he had visited court proceedings against a Pussy Riot member, Veronika Nikulshina, at the Moscow Basmanny Court, and a critical interview about the Russian legal system given to the television channel Al Jazeera.{{cite news|author=Nikolay Korzhov |title=Pussy Riot's Pyotr Verzilov: No criminal justice system in Russia |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/pussy-riot-pyotr-verzilov-criminal-justice-system-russia-180913230118780.html |work=Al Jazeera |date=14 September 2018 |accessdate=15 September 2018}} Working for MediaZona, he was about to receive a final journalistic report on investigations on the killing of 3 Russian journalists in the Central African Republic in July 2018, according to the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.{{cite news |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2018/09/18/pussy-riot-member-pyotr-verzilov-was-reportedly-expecting-an-investigative-report-about-the-murder-of-three-russian-documentary-filmmakers-on-the-day-he-was-apparently-poisoned |title=Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov was reportedly expecting an investigative report about the murder of three Russian documentary filmmakers on the day he was apparently poisoned |publisher=Meduza |date=18 September 2018}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/we-now-know-more-about-the-apparent-poisoning-of-the-pussy-riot-member-pyotr-verzilov|title=We Now Know More About the Apparent Poisoning of the Pussy Riot Member Pyotr Verzilov|magazine=The New Yorker|first=Masha|last=Gessen|date=19 September 2018}}

On 15 September, he was flown to Berlin, Germany, for further medical care and examination at the Charité hospital.{{cite news|author=Fransesca Ebell |title=Severely ill Pussy Riot member to be treated in Germany |url=https://apnews.com/45c6291819fb4db2b42b9e557098c26c |work=AP News |date=15 September 2018 |accessdate=15 September 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45538772 |title=Pussy Riot's Pyotr Verzilov flown to Germany for treatment |work=BBC News |date=16 September 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/weltspiegel/russische-polit-punk-band-pussy-riot-mitglied-zur-behandlung-in-berlin/23072724.html |title=Pussy-Riot-Mitglied zur Behandlung in Berlin |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |date=16 September 2018}} On 17 September, it was reported that Verzilov was gradually recovering.{{cite news |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-verzilov-pussy-riot-voina-poison-berlin-moscow/29492936.html |title=Russian Activist Verzilov Doing 'Better' After Possible Poisoning |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=17 September 2018}}{{cite news |title=German government concerned over health of 'poisoned' Pussy Riot member - Independent.ie |url=https://www.independent.ie/world-news/german-government-concerned-over-health-of-poisoned-pussy-riot-member-37323888.html |accessdate=17 September 2018 |agency=Associated Press|publisher=Independent.ie |date=17 September 2018 |language=en}} On 18 September, doctors at the German hospital said in a statement that it was "highly probable" that Verzilov had been poisoned, that the cause was being investigated, but that he was going to make a complete recovery.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/18/highly-probable-pussy-riot-member-poisoned-say-german-doctors-pyotr-verzilov |title='Highly probable' Pussy Riot activist was poisoned, say German doctors |newspaper=The Guardian |first1=Jess |last1=Smee |first2=Luke |last2=Harding |date=18 September 2018}} In a statement from the same day, the Pussy Riot group stated that Verzilov was still very confused, and they accused the Russian government of poisoning. They also noted that the poison was designed to leave the victim's body quickly, so that it would be difficult to prove the exact details.{{cite news |url=https://www.avclub.com/pussy-riot-releases-statement-on-apparent-poisoning-1829149863 |title=Pussy Riot releases statement on apparent poisoning |newspaper=The A.V. Club |first=Sam |last=Barsanti |date=18 September 2018}}

Verzilov was married to Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova. They have a daughter, Gera, born in 2008. Tolokonnikova and Verzilov are now divorced.

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Category:1987 births

Category:Russian activists

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Category:Pussy Riot members