Pussy Riot gets 2 Years for performance art

The punk rock band Pussy Riot has been given two years for “hooliganism driven by religious hatred” by a Russian Court. The band played a song in the church making fun of President Vladimir Putin and his cosy ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

People around the world have stood up for their right to express themselves as they please. Such artists as Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Yoko Ono, and Bjork are among them. Russia claims to be a capitalist democracy (much as the US), so why then are they sentencing these women to prison for two years. In the US such a band would more likely bet charged with trespassing in a church. But the charges here are more specifically about the content of their song. hooliganism driven by religious hatred” implies this is more of a free speech issue.

A lot of people hope these girls will be let out of prison soon and I do also. សតិវ អតុ

Here is a comments from Nat Winn, posted in the Kasama Project;

………..Pussy Riot is an anonymous Russian performance art group that formed in October 2011, shortly after the Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin announced he was going to run, yet again, for the presidency. The group has engaged in guerilla art, staging impromptu performances in Moscow that artistically wrench into the sorry state of Russian political life including the lack of political freedom, choice and the decadence of a small number of Russian billionaires amongst a sea of poverty and misery.
The group is made of about ten performers along with about fifteen members who are responsible for shooting and editing their videos which are then posted on the internet. Their performances stand out for the wild costumes of the group which include brightly colored dresses and tights and faces that are masked by balaclavas (a Russian cloth headgear that covers the entire face).
The events which cast Pussy Riot into fame began with a performance lasting 51 seconds. On February 21st 2012 the group got into the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow and climbed onto the alter (where only men are allowed to stand according to Church dogma). They began to perform a song whose chorus went
Virgin Mary, Become Feminist,
Virgin Mary, Hash Putin Away.

……………..Thousands in Russia have chanted “Pussy Riot” at public protests indicating that many in Russia have come to the equate the repression of the group with the larger suffocating political situation in the country. Many are familiar with the big name musicians who have come out in defense of Pussy Riot such as Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Yoko Ono, and Bjork among others……….

Commenting on the above peice and other comments made to it is Oleg Torbasow;

Walter Lippmann wrote: “These feminist musician-politicians entered a church they didn’t belong to and made a political declaration against the positions of the church toward the Russian government”.
You are wrong. Firstly it is the heavily dominating church here, it causes almost everybody.
Secondly, these girls DO belong to it.
Arslan, do not try to talk on behalf of Russians. We, Russian Maoists and almost all Left, strongly supports Pussy Riot, although they are not Communists at all. Our people areis faced with the danger of new Orthodox fascism. Fanatics shout “Burn the witches!”
Demize!, you echoes reactionary inventions intended to slander every anti-government activities. This is a well-known thing here at least since Lena Massacre (1912). Putting the blame on ‘the West intrigues’ is the old severe blinding disease of our people.
Sorry for my incoherent English.
The statement on this issue by the Russian Maoist Party is here – http://torbasow.livejournal.com/488922.html

RT TV; Pussy Riot sentenced to two years in jail