Pussy Riot Takes On Corruption In The “CHAIKA” Video

“We cannot live in a country where its top law enforcement official is the brightest symbol of corruption and murder.”

February 03, 2016

"CHAIKA" sets its sights on Russia's prosecutor-general, Yury Chaika. The video satirizes his unchecked use of power and intimidation. An English translation of the lyrics reads, Take for instance the boss of the Irkutsk shipyards/ He wasn't in line with our interests/ That boss didn't want to sell or pay/ But the Good Lord always finds a way/ A garage, a stool, a rope, late at night/ We can gently show the director the light. A press release alleges that Chaika is corrupt and has ties to the Russian mafia.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pussy Riot leaves guitars behind here, instead building a song with brassy drone and the sounds of scratching vinyl. "CHAIKA" is produced by Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio.

"Pussy Riot demands an immediate investigation against General Prosecutor Chaika and his family, as well as against all the top officials in his office," the band wrote in a statement. "We hope that the 'CHAIKA' music video will help to convince people that we cannot live in a country where its top law enforcement official is the brightest symbol of corruption and murder. Pussy Riot hopes that people around the world will help us voice our outrage and turn Russia into a country where people like Chaika can no longer exist."

ADVERTISEMENT
Pussy Riot Takes On Corruption In The “CHAIKA” Video