Prelude to a stiff sentence: The Judge is SLAMMING the members of Pussy Riot:

[cali]

Posting of the video was proof of the band trying to gain publicity by their hooligan actions, the judge has said adding,"They have deliberately placed themselves against Orthodox believers."

She's also said that the "jerking of limbs" during the performance was further proof of hatred towards Christians.
8m ago

"The defendants violated the common rules of behaviour in the cathedral," the judge has said.
12m ago

Judge: Lamps, loud speakers, guitars and balaclavas were all prepared in advance by the band.
13m ago

"They were openly displaying disrespect" not just for those in the cathedral but for all Orthodox Christians the judge has said.

Updated 12m ago
15m ago

The action has "degraded the moral feeling" of the victims the judge has said.


Updated 2m ago
15m ago

The judge has called the crime a conspiracy driven by hatred of religion and the court does "not trust" the testimony of the band members because it is an attempt to "evade justice" and proven to be false.
19m ago

"The court does find a religious hatred motive" the judge has said and has given an interesting reason for this based partly around the argument of Pussy Riot being Feminists.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/aug/17/pussy-riot-trial-verdict-live?newsfeed=true

[cali]

1. I'm glad to say that I was (somewhat) wrong. Each will get 2 years

dating from their arrest, so they'll have to serve 18 months more. Could have been far worse.

[panader0]

2. I think I read that 2 years was the minimum sentence.

While I'm glad they got the minimum, it seems way too harsh. It seems odd to me to have Russia prosecting people for being against the church. Opiate of the masses and all......

[HopeHoops]

3. "If you strike me down, Darth, I'll become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."

Just wait until they get out. I suspect they may change the band's name to something a little more provocative than "Pussy Riot".

[E-Z-B]

5. Unless Putie pardons them. Would be interesting.

[HopeHoops]

8. Putin Pussy Riot - I can see the headlines now.

[Cleita]

4. Makes one yearn for the days when religion was banned in Russia.

They probably should be fined for trespassing and maybe some vandalism, but the reaction to their antics is way over the top. Of course, since they are a girl band and the Russians are still pretty misogynistic, I do believe it's a gender issue as well.

[RZM]

6. The would have been punished just as harshly under the old system

If not more so.

[Cleita]

7. I was being sardonic. Don't be so literal. n/t

[HopeHoops]

10. The whole thing doesn't make sense. I think the name had a lot to do with it.

Face it, if a judge in Kansas had a band named "Pussy Riot" facing jaywalking charges they'd be given 40 years.

[Cleita]

11. Yes, this is the whole point of the draconian punishment these women are facing. n/t

[DonCoquixote]

12. sadly

The Russian Orthodox Church worked hand in fist with that old seminary student, Josef Stalin, so likely these girls would have been disappeared under the old regime.

[pinboy3niner]

9. CNN: Punk rockers get 2-year sentences. nt