Anti-Putin feminist punks on trial in Moscow

[struggle4progress]

LAURA MILLS, Associated Press
Updated 12:25 p.m., Friday, July 20, 2012

... The February stunt, two weeks before the election that returned Putin to the presidency, was designed to offend. Five members of Pussy Riot — wearing brightly colored balaclavas and miniskirts — briefly took over the pulpit at Christ The Savior Cathedral, chanting "Mother Mary, drive Putin away" and high-kicking cancan-style.

What happened after security guards seized the five was extraordinary — even for a country whose leaders have shown little patience for protest. Three of the band members, two of whom have young children, were thrown into jail and face charges of hooliganism that could bring them seven years if convicted.

Supporters of the three say their jailing and charges are a draconian demonstration of how the church holds heavy sway in the government.

At Friday's preliminary hearing, prosecutors asked that the women — Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 — be held in custody for at least six more months as the trial progresses. Defense attorneys have repeatedly asked for them to be released, in particular so they can take care of their young children ...

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Anti-Putin-feminist-punks-on-trial-in-Moscow-3721684.php

[cbayer]

1. Seven months for hooliganism?

This is really tragic.

[struggle4progress]

2. Trial hasn't started yet: possible penalty -- seven YEARS

[cbayer]

3. That is outrageous

[struggle4progress]

4. This seems to be the hooliganism:

I'm not impressed by this action, but the official reaction is grossly disproportionate

[struggle4progress]

5. Russia: Band Members’ Conviction a Blow to Free Expression

Hate Crime Charges Inappropriate
August 17, 2012
Hugh Williamson, Director of Europe and Central Asia Division

(Moscow) – The conviction of three members of the Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot on August 17, 2012, is inappropriate and disproportionate, Human Rights Watch said today. The three women were convicted on charges of hate-motivated hooliganism and sentenced to two years in prison.

The three women have been in detention for over five months and should be released, Human Rights Watch said ...

http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/08/17/russia-band-members-conviction-blow-free-expression

Time-served should have been more than adequate in this case

[rug]

6. "They were sentenced to two years in a penal colony."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/russian-punk-band-found-guilty-of-hooliganism-and-religious-hatred/2012/08/17/d5b2dc96-e8ab-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html

[Jim__]

7. Russian top clerics forgive Pussy Riot, ask for mercy

An excerpt from the story at nbcnews:

Russian Orthodox Church clerics have asked the country’s authorities to "show mercy" on the three members of the punk band Pussy Riot, who were sentenced to two years in jail each on Friday in a trial seen as a test of President Vladimir Putin's tolerance of dissent.



"Casting no doubt on the legitimacy of the court’s decision, we appeal to the public authorities to show mercy, within the law, on the convicted in the hope they will never repeat such blasphemous actions,” the Russian Orthodox Church's High Council said in a statement, according to RT.com.

...

[dimbear]

8. Gary Kasparov arrested in protest, accused of biting a policeman.

Passing strange, IMHO. To face a judge on Monday.