Members of the controversial protest group and Russian punk band "Pussy Riot" were attacked Thursday morning while eating breakfast at a McDonald's.
"The group of men who were wearing patriotic symbols used pepper spray and poured rubbish and green antiseptic over them." (Via Euronews)
Euronews reports the women were left with head injuries and even chemical burns.
Video of the attack was posted on YouTube. You can see at one point, a member goes to the floor and covers her face.
"The video as you see shows them first being harassed by young men who yell at them to 'go to America.' ... Local police blame Thursday's attack was a PR stunt." (Via WBRE)
However, according to Amnesty International, the attack was unprovoked, and premeditated by an organized group.
Describing Pussy Riot, Amnesty International wrote, "The activists, who were joined by other members of the new prisoners’ rights NGO “Zone of the Rights”, say they were in the city to inspect a local prison colony."
A sign the assailants held up reportedly read, "Dirty whores out of our town."
Pussy Riot became internationally recognized in 2012 when the group infamously performed in a Russian Orthodox cathedral. They sang an expletive-filled song and denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin.
That act landed them with a hooliganism conviction and prison time. However, nearly two years behind bars hasn't silenced the group.
The Russian musicians recently appeared at the Sochi Olympics. The band members invited media outlets to a hotel in the Olympic city to unveil their new music video. However, they were disrupted by protestors. (Via CNN)
As for the latest attack, police have said they will investigate, but wouldn't comment on the allegations.
