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Convicted Pussy Riot members appeal
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 29 August 2012
The three members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot jailed for performing a ‘punk prayer’ critical of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin have appealed their convictions, a legal representative has confirmed.
As previously reported, earlier this month the three women were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” after protesting against Putin in a Moscow cathedral earlier this year. They were sentenced to two years in prison, taking into account the five months they had already served while awaiting trial.
The convictions garnered criticisms from human rights and free speech groups, and musicians and artists, across the world, with many accusing the Russian government of conspiring with the country’s Orthodox Church to silence critics of Putin.
A few days after the Pussy Riot three were convicted, a legal rep confirmed the womens’ intention to appeal, and yesterday lawyer Violetta Volkova confirmed appeal papers had been filed with the Khamovniki district court on Monday. A decision is expected within ten days.
Meanwhile two other members of Pussy Riot have now fled Russia to avoid arrest, as the authorities there seek to prosecute the other two members of the ten strong punk outfit who took part in the cathedral protest.
Elsewhere, Russia’s Orthodox Church has condemned Pussy Riot supporters who have cut down crosses in various locations around the country. The cross attacks were seemingly inspired by the cutting down of a large Orthodox cross in Kiev earlier this month, in protest at the treatment of the Pussy Riot three, by campaigning group Femen, who routinely stage headline grabbing and sometimes shocking protests to promote women’s rights issues. Pussy Riot manager Pyotr Verzilov has also told reporters that the band disapproves of damaging crosses in their name.
