Pussy Riot punk rock singers sentenced to 2 year jail sentences for 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred and enmity'

By D. Beeksma
On August 18, 2012 At 12:42 am

Category : News
Tags : Christ The Savior, Christ The Savior Cathedral, moscow court, rock members, Russia Today

Responses : 8 Comments

A Moscow court has sentenced three members of Pussy Riot to two years in prison for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred and enmity. The punk rock members stormed the altar of the Russian Orthodox Church's Christ the Savior Cathedral in February and sang an anti-Putin punk prayer which included the line, "Virgin Mary, drive Putin away." They were only there for about a minute, but believers were offended.

About 60 people rallying around the court for and against Pussy Riot were detained by police, Russia Today reports (see video embedded below).

Admitted into evidence by the prosecution was data from computers which the prosecution said backed up its allegation that the singers were "motivated by a hatred of the Russian Orthodox Church."

D. Beeksma

One of the growing crowd of American "nones" herself, Deborah is a prolific writer who finds religion, spirituality and the impact of belief (and non-belief) on culture inspiring, fascinating and at times, disturbing. She hosts the God Discussion show and handles the site's technical work. Her education and background is in business, ecommerce and law.

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http://www.houseofbetazed.com Mriana

I don't think we have such a charge of hooliganism with or without religious hatred in the U. S. Disturbing the peace, but even then, I don't think the words "religious hatred" would be added to the sentence. This is totally unbelievable to me and makes no sense, at least to an American, such as myself. If such a thing happened in the U. S. I think at most, the girls would be charged with disturbing the peace or maybe rioting and probably get a slap on the hand with a fine with no mention of religious hatred or at least very little mention of religious hatred. I don't think they'd be spending time in prison, but maybe time in jail at the very most. The focus would not be on that part at least and depending on the church, people would either be offended or enjoy it in some manner, but I seriously doubt religion wouldn't be the focus of the charges. This whole thing with Pussy Riot is ridiculous. Does Russia have no such thing as religious freedom or freedom of speech after the fall of Communism?
http://www.houseofbetazed.com Mriana

Here's the closing statement of one of the members of Pussy Riot who was sentenced:
https://chtodelat.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/yekaterina-samutsevich-closing-statement/

original text here, not that it would help most people who can't read Russian: http://www.cogita.ru/dokumenty/ekaterina-samucevich.-poslednee-slovo

Oh there's a video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9JyyaniaV0&feature=player_embedded
ptee4747

"Does Russia have no such thing as religious freedom or freedom of speech after the fall of Communism?" Not under Putin they don't. That ex-KGB man is slowly but surely returning Russia to a form of Stalinism. And the west will watch it happen and do nothing, to big a market.

http://www.houseofbetazed.com Mriana

Now I understand Pussy Riot and their protest more. Thanks

http://www.houseofbetazed.com Mriana

There are more video recorded statements and even the trial here
https://www.youtube.com/user/PussyRiotEng I didn't know trials etc could be recorded in any country. How those on trial give testimonies and statements in Russia is interesting. They are in a cage, with glass, to do all of this. I understand visitation with glass between the prisoner and the visitor, but I do not understand a prisoner testifying behind a glass cell.
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