Pussy Riot is a musical performance art collective based in Moscow, Russia. Founded in August 2011, the group staged unauthorized provocative 'guerrilla' performances in public places, performances that were filmed as music videos and posted on the Internet. The collective's lyrical themes included feminism and opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom the group considered a dictator. The group gained global notoriety when five members of the group staged a performance inside Moscow's Cathedral of Christ church in February 2012.