Mike Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Three members of Pussy Riot -- a Russian punk band and feminist collective that mocked Russian president Vladamir Putin during a "punk prayer" in a Moscow cathedral--have been found guilty of hooliganism and sentenced to two years in jail Judge Marina Syrova announced the verdict from a district court in central Moscow, about two miles from the Christ the Saviour Cathedral where the guerrilla group performed its "flash" stunt. The band members--Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30--were arrested on March 3, several weeks after the performance, and charged with "hooliganism." They've been in jail ever since. Their trial drew enormous international interest, sparking catcalls from international free-speech advocates and spawning dozens of protests--including some that were reported on Twitter during the verdict and sentencing that involved an impromptu musical concert and some protests in public areas in Moscow and London. Madonna, Bjork, Paul McCartney and Courtney Love were among a long list of musicians to come out in support of Pussy Riot, calling on the Russian government to set the band members free. Last week in Berlin, more than 400 people joined a protest led by electro-singer Peaches. In one of the most extravagant displays," the Associated Press said, "Reykjavik Mayor Jon Gnarr rode through the streets of the Icelandic capital in a Gay Pride parade ... dressed like a band member--wearing a bright pink dress and matching balaclava--while lip-synching to one of Pussy Riot's songs." What started as "a punk-infused political prank," London's Independent said, "has rapidly snowballed into one of the most notorious court cases in post-Soviet Russian history." Five members of the group, which formed in 2011, were arrested in January after a video of a Putin-baiting performance in Moscow's Red Square circulated online. They were detained for several hours by police, fined and released, NPR said. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/russian-punk-band-verdict-found-guilty-hooliganism-115937812.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 And all of that because they performed a (one) protest song in a church. Hopefully the European Court of Human Rights can have another say in this, but who knows when or if that will happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 It reminds me of the dictatorships like when I lived in Spain in the early seventies, there was a little evil guy caled Franco. He was friends with H**ler, St***n and all the gang. Russians have never been lucky with democracy. They had Tzars, then bolchevicks, then Stalinism and some years ago it looked like it was getting better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 And all of that because they performed a (one) protest song in a church. I was just reminded that they not even performed the *song* at that church, but only a pantomime / lip syncing, which was later mixed with music for the video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 At least Putin can't pretend not to be a dictator who longs for the old Soviet days anymore. I wonder what the press about this looks like in Russia compared to here. I hope they're freed soon, but I wouldn't count on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Hooligans the bunch of 'em... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamisammy29 Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Wow, if "hooliganism" was really a crime, I would have been in prison since I was seven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 That's why I laugh when people complain about the "Goverment", here in the USA. Try living in Russia, China,Syria or under that little toad in North Korea. That is true goverment oppression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayzor Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) Let my Pussy Riot run free! Edited August 17, 2012 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 That's why I laugh when people complain about the "Goverment", here in the USA. Try living in Russia, China,Syria or under that little toad in North Korea. That is true goverment oppression. They're "complaining" because they don't want the U.S. to slowly turn into another one of those govts. Besides, complaining is still a guaranteed right under the Constitution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 Bitter, I strongly back Freedom of speech and thought.I am usually on the minority side of popular opinion. My point was don't compare problems in the USA, to the oppression of people in China, North Korea, Saudia Arabia, Russia, and many other countries. We have it easy compared to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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