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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Pussy Riot and Protest in Russia's New 'Dark Age'

    Masha Gessen's family fled Russia for the United States to escape anti-Semitism in the 1980's. She trained as a journalist and returned to Moscow for 20 years as an editor and reporter. Last year she fled again -- with her partner and their children -- because she felt targeted by the violent campaign against gays and lesbians.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Masha Gessen's family fled Russia for the United States to escape anti-Semitism in the 1980's. She trained as a journalist and returned to Moscow for 20 years as an editor and reporter. Last year she fled again -- with her partner and their children -- because she felt targeted by the violent campaign against gays and lesbians. An

    outspoken critic

    of Vladimir Putin, she's had unique access to members of the protest group Pussy Riot, including the two who were imprisoned and just released in advance of the Sochi Winter Olympics. Her latest book is

    Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot

    . We talk with her about what's happening now and what might happen after the Games

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Crunch Time for Reforming the NSA
    1. 0:00Congress Unveils $1 Trillion Spending Bill
    2. 8:11Crunch Time for Reforming the NSA
    3. 43:17Pussy Riot and Protest in Russia's New 'Dark Age'You’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Masha Gessen

      staff writer at the New Yorker

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Crunch Time for Reforming the NSA
    1. 0:00Congress Unveils $1 Trillion Spending Bill
    2. 8:11Crunch Time for Reforming the NSA
    3. 43:17Pussy Riot and Protest in Russia's New 'Dark Age'You’re reading this
    Back to To the Point