Thursday, February 20, 2014 3:48am ET by  
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Olympic committee says whip attack on Pussy Riot was "very unsettling"

The International Olympic Committee has spoken out about video footage of Pussy Riot being whipped by police near the Sochi Winter Games.

The punk protest group were filmed this week rushing to a massive advertising sign for Russia's Winter Olympics before singing a new song about president Vladimir Putin.

However, police quickly stepped in and used pepper spray and whips on the group.

International Olympic Committee have now stated that the clip is "very unsettling", but they added that "it's a shame if the Olympics is used as a political platform".

Pussy Riot's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova meanwhile has told Newsweek: "Never before have officials treated me as violently as in Sochi. They threw me to the floor face down, bruising my hands and knees."

Speaking about the meaning behind their new tune, she added: "Our new song is devoted to our friends, Russia's political prisoners. Sochi is the best place to shout out our protests as the entire world is here."

 

 

 

Watch the whipping video below: