On the Ikea Russia website, shoppers can submit photos of themselves in Ikea stores to invoke the Ikea shopping experience. A recent photo featuring shoppers wearing the colorful Pussy Riot balaclavas while seated on furniture in-store was removed from the Ikea website. The photo was removed despite it being the most popular photo on the site reflected by the number of visitor votes online. Ikea defending the Pussy Riot photo take-down stating that the iconic Scandinavian store has a policy about non-involvement with politics. Ikea is extremely popular in Russia and statistics show that Russia is a profitable market for the Swedish furniture and accessories peddler.

Since the political photo brouhaha, Pussy Riot lost their appeal to have their convictions overturned and a secondary appeal to have their sentences reduced. The convicted Pussy Riot members were even dispatched to a prison far from Moscow, but not quite as far flung as Siberia. Being banished from a Moscow area prison seems to be further punishment for the punk girl collective. The prison location makes it nearly impossible for family or friends to visit the Pussy Riot prisoners. While many musicians and human rights groups worldwide called for Russia and specifically for Putin to reconsider the prosecution, conviction and imprisonment of the riot grrrl band, the performers have been shown no mercy and will most likely have to serve out their full two year sentences.