"I think Boston Pride is very excited that they are going to be there and to join the flag-raising," Murphy said.

According to Ann Murphy, a spokeswoman for Boston Pride, Pussy Riot will be part of the celebratory activity to help kick-off the Pride Week festivities.

Members of Pussy Riot, the Russian female punk collective jailed repeatedly under President Vladimir Putin's watch, will be at the annual Boston Pride flag-raising ceremony on City Hall Plaza this week, alongside Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

This year's theme is "Wicked Proud," celebrating Pride's 45th anniversary.

Bonnie McGilpin, a spokewoman from Walsh's office, confirmed that two members of the group, Masha Alekhina and Nadya Tolokonnikova, would be present when the mayor raises the rainbow-colored flag outside of the municipal building at Government Center Friday.


Alekhina and Tolokonnikova are coming to the city this week for a special talk hosted by Boston Pride at The Wilbur Theatre.

In 2012, the two female activists were sentenced to two years behind bars after an anti-Putin performance in the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

The flag-raising ceremony will take place at noon Friday. It will be followed by eight days of special events, then culminate with the annual parade on Saturday, June 13.

Pussy Riot's Boston appearance follows another visit last year, when Alekhina and Tolokonnikova discussed freedom of speech and the importance of activism as featured speakers at Harvard's Institute of Politics.

During that same trip, the band members crowded the Cambridge police station with supporters in an attempt to free an arrested protester that came to their event.

Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @steveannear.