Putin says punk band Pussy Riot's punishment should not be 'too severe'
Vladimir Putin said three members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot should not be judged 'too severely' for a minute-long cathedral protest performance in Moscow cathedral.
Pussy Riot members, from left, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alekhina sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow ON Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said three members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot should not be judged "too severely" for a protest performance at a Moscow cathedral, raising hopes the women will avoid lengthy jail terms.
His comments Thursday also draw into question the independence of Russia's court system, as the women face up to seven years in prison for an unsanctioned "protest prayer" in February at Moscow's largest Orthodox cathedral.
The three band members ascended to the alter of Christ the Saviour Cathedral and called on the Virgin Mary to "cast Putin out" - a protest aimed at Putin's then candidacy for the presidency and the close relationship between the government and the Russian Orthodox Church.
"I see nothing good in what they did," Putin said Thursday during a trip to London. “Nevertheless, I don’t think they should be judged too severely ... But it’s up to the court to make the final decision. I hope that it will be right and relevant.”
The punk rockers in the defendant cage.
The women - Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 - have been in jail for five months awaiting trial on charges of "hooliganism" motivated by religious hatred.
PUSSY RIOT TRIAL: A GLANCE AT THE CASE AGAINST ANTI-PUTIN FEMINIST ROCKERS
Their case has attracted widespread attention in Russia, with supporters arguing that classifying the performance as hooliganism, and not an “administrative offense,” indicates Putin's determination to crush dissent.
Amnesty International has declared the women prisoners of conscience and dozens of Russian artists and writers have signed an open letter of support.
Western performers like Madonna, Sting and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have also spoken out in support of the jailed band members.
Russian police officers detain a masked supporter of members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot in Moscow on Friday.
When the Chili Peppers performed in Moscow in July, singer Anthony Kiedis donned a Pussy Riot shirt.
Relatively unknown six months ago, Pussy Riot is a punk-rock collective of about 10 members who stage impromptu performances all across Moscow to voice opposition to Kremlin policies.
The women maintain that the February performance, which lasted about one minute, was part of that political message.
"We did not want to offend anybody," Tolokonnikova said from jail. "Our motives were exclusively political."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wor...shment-severe-article-1.1128307#ixzz22aQMKd00
Vladimir Putin said three members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot should not be judged 'too severely' for a minute-long cathedral protest performance in Moscow cathedral.
Pussy Riot members, from left, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alekhina sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow ON Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said three members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot should not be judged "too severely" for a protest performance at a Moscow cathedral, raising hopes the women will avoid lengthy jail terms.
His comments Thursday also draw into question the independence of Russia's court system, as the women face up to seven years in prison for an unsanctioned "protest prayer" in February at Moscow's largest Orthodox cathedral.
The three band members ascended to the alter of Christ the Saviour Cathedral and called on the Virgin Mary to "cast Putin out" - a protest aimed at Putin's then candidacy for the presidency and the close relationship between the government and the Russian Orthodox Church.
"I see nothing good in what they did," Putin said Thursday during a trip to London. “Nevertheless, I don’t think they should be judged too severely ... But it’s up to the court to make the final decision. I hope that it will be right and relevant.”
The punk rockers in the defendant cage.
The women - Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 - have been in jail for five months awaiting trial on charges of "hooliganism" motivated by religious hatred.
PUSSY RIOT TRIAL: A GLANCE AT THE CASE AGAINST ANTI-PUTIN FEMINIST ROCKERS
Their case has attracted widespread attention in Russia, with supporters arguing that classifying the performance as hooliganism, and not an “administrative offense,” indicates Putin's determination to crush dissent.
Amnesty International has declared the women prisoners of conscience and dozens of Russian artists and writers have signed an open letter of support.
Western performers like Madonna, Sting and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have also spoken out in support of the jailed band members.
Russian police officers detain a masked supporter of members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot in Moscow on Friday.
When the Chili Peppers performed in Moscow in July, singer Anthony Kiedis donned a Pussy Riot shirt.
Relatively unknown six months ago, Pussy Riot is a punk-rock collective of about 10 members who stage impromptu performances all across Moscow to voice opposition to Kremlin policies.
The women maintain that the February performance, which lasted about one minute, was part of that political message.
"We did not want to offend anybody," Tolokonnikova said from jail. "Our motives were exclusively political."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wor...shment-severe-article-1.1128307#ixzz22aQMKd00
Grape Soda17 hours ago
I wonder if they would open for the Butthole Surfers. Now that would be some lineup.
