Former Pussy Riot member Rita Flores has claimed that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) pressured her into becoming an informant and gathering information on dissident artists and political activists.
Flores, whose real name is Margarita Konovalova, made the allegations in a video interview with her lawyer, Dmitry Zakhvatov, published by the exiled Russian media outlet Port on Monday, 24 August 2026. Several international news organisations have since reported her account.
According to Flores, the alleged recruitment began in February 2023 after FSB officers searched her Moscow flat. She said the officers threatened her with criminal prosecution and made threats against members of her family if she refused to co-operate.
Rita Flores Says FSB Threatened Her Family
Flores described the alleged encounter as an intense interrogation in which officers attempted to intimidate her into working for the security service.
She claimed that agents threatened to kill her relatives and told her that she could disappear without anyone being able to establish what had happened to her. Flores also said officers used her social media posts concerning the war in Ukraine as potential grounds for prosecution.
The former Pussy Riot member said she eventually agreed to co-operate under pressure. According to reports based on her interview, she was given the operational codename 'Harley' and instructed to communicate with an FSB handler.
Flores' claims have not been independently verified, and the allegations should therefore be understood as her account of events.
Alleged Spying on Dissident Artists
Flores said her assignments involved collecting information about Russian artists and political activists viewed as targets by the authorities.
The information allegedly included details about people's social circles, relatives, habits and personal vulnerabilities. Among those she named were street artist Philipp Kozlov, known as Philippenzo, performance artist Pavel Krisevich and fellow Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina.
Flores claimed that she sometimes deliberately disrupted the assignments by creating arguments or otherwise preventing the FSB from obtaining the information it wanted.
Her account suggests that the alleged operation extended beyond monitoring political activists and involved people from Russia's contemporary art and protest communities.
The allegations come against a wider backdrop of increasing pressure on Russian artists and activists who have opposed the Kremlin or criticised the invasion of Ukraine.
Alleged Plot Involving Pyotr Verzilov
One of the most serious claims in Flores' interview concerns Pyotr Verzilov, a former member of Pussy Riot and publisher associated with the independent media organisation Mediazona.
Flores claimed that, in 2025, she was instructed to help lure Verzilov to Serbia as part of an operation in which Russian agents allegedly intended to kidnap and kill him. She said she was offered 3 million roubles to participate.
Flores said the assignment became a turning point for her. She subsequently contacted Zakhvatov, who helped her seek a way out of Russia.
Reports say Flores has since left the country and is now outside Russia. Zakhvatov, who has represented Pussy Riot members in the past, helped her escape.
From Pussy Riot Activist to FSB Informant
Flores' story is particularly striking because of her previous association with Pussy Riot, the feminist protest collective known for opposing Vladimir Putin's government.
The group rose to international prominence through provocative performances and political protests, while several members have faced detention, prosecution and other forms of state pressure.
Flores herself had previously been arrested in connection with political activism. Her alleged experience with the FSB therefore adds another dimension to the continuing pressure faced by members and supporters of Russia's dissident artistic community.
Flores Speaks Out After Leaving Russia
Flores has said she decided to speak publicly about her alleged recruitment partly to help others who may find themselves in similar circumstances.
Her lawyer has also shared information about how people who believe they have been forcibly recruited can seek assistance.
The allegations remain based primarily on Flores' testimony and reporting from media outlets that reviewed or published accounts of her interview. No independent public confirmation has verified every detail she described.
Nevertheless, her claims have renewed attention on the risks faced by Russian artists, activists and dissidents amid the country's continuing crackdown on political opposition.
For Flores, the decision to speak out represents an attempt to explain what she says happened during several years of coercion — and to draw attention to the pressure allegedly placed on those who challenge the Russian authorities.
