Pussy Riot Members Attacked With Whips At Attempted Sochi Protest

Members of the anti-Putin punk protest collective Pussy Riot attempted a demonstration in Sochi today, but were quickly set upon by security forces with whips.

Six members gathered in a plaza in downtown Sochi—about 20 miles from the Olympics, which are actually in Adler and the mountains—to film a performance of a new protest song, titled "Putin Will Teach You How To Love Your Motherland." But they were set upon by uniformed Cossacks almost before they could begin. Photos and video show members restrained and bloodied.

(The Cossacks, an ethnic group with a long history in Russia, have in recent years become a sort of regional militia, and have been hired to provide security for the Olympics.)

The incident comes a day after two members of Pussy Riot were arrested before carrying out a protest—possibly the same one attempted today.