Russian feminist activists and punk band Pussy Riot entered the Cambridge Police Department Headquarters and refused to leave until officers released a protester arrested outside of their Harvard lecture Monday night.

The band members were taking part in a hosted discussion at Harvard’s Institute of Politics when the incident occurred. According to Cambridge Police, Harvard University Police arrested a man for trespassing. Pussy Riot identified the man as Roman Torgovitsky. Upon learning he had been arrested, the band members, along with several supporters, went to Cambridge Police Department headquarters demanding his release.

The band had finished giving a lecture at Harvard University when they learned of the arrest.


Torgovitsky had challenged Harvard Police to arrest him while asking a question to the band during the lecture, according to at least one source at the talk.

Back in May, Torgovitsky was arrested after interrupting the performance of a Russian violinist at the Saunders Theater. According to the Harvard Crimson, Torgovitsky was angered by violinist Vladimir Spivakov’s support of the Russian incursion into Ukraine.

From the Crimson: