Pussy Riot to stay in jail as court dismisses appeal

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Published time: July 09, 2012 19:57
Edited time: July 09, 2012 23:57

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, a member of Pussy Riot punk band, at a hearing in the Moscow Tagansky Court. (RIA Novosti/Ramil Sitdikov)

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Anya Fedorova, Human rights, Neil Harvey, Opposition, Peter Oliver, Politics, Prime Time Russia, Protest, Pussy Riot, Religion, Russia

The Moscow City Court has turned down an appeal from three members of the punk rock group Pussy Riot, who staged a controversial civil action in Russia’s main cathedral in February. The three women had hoped to be released from custody on Monday.

The activists’ lawyers appealed an earlier decision that provided the three should remain in detention until July 24.

Overnight, online sources had been full of speculation that Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Ekaterina Samutsevich would be released, but this never happened.

The three members of Pussy Riot each face up to seven years in prison on charges of hooliganism, following a brief masked guerrilla performance of a “blasphemous” song on the altar of Russia’s main cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The song’s lyrics attacked President Vladimir Putin and alleged corruption within the Orthodox Church.

Prosecutors have been asking for the women to stay in jail as they build a case against them. Citing the activists as a potential flight risk and suggesting they may attempt to tamper with evidence, the court agreed that the three should remain in custody.

Many of Russia’s leading artists and intellectuals signed a petition in support of Pussy Riot’s release. Over 30,000 signatures have been collected.

Pussy Riot performing in Christ the Saviour Cathedral (Image from pussy-riot.livejournal.com)

Comments (2)

Azam (unregistered) 09.08.2012 11:25

Hold on boy!!!! What the punk band did is showing that russian society is getting mature and learning to practice freedom of expression. May be the band did bit extra ordinary but for good. Putin is showing patience and take this act with open heart.

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The Kritik (unregistered) 30.07.2012 23:51

No appeal right for SCUMS OF SOCIETY.Charge those low-life scum bags with everything under the law and give them a 10-15 years jail sentence after which they finish spending,kick them out of the country.Mr Putin is a very patient president,i hope,he knows,what he is doing.I would have rolled back democracy in Russia minimum a decade ago.The u.s,israel and brit MAFFIA will not rest until they destroy Russia.

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