Arguably one for the Perspectives forum but since they're a Punk band I thought I'd stick it in here.

 

My thoughts are - what seems like a defeat for free speech in Russia could well turn out to be a signifigant victory. Only time will tell. The band have my support on this regardless of whether they're any good or not

 

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/aug/1...e?newsfeed=true

 

 

 

 

Director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Programme, John Dalhuisen has linked the sentence to the Kremlin and said that its attempt to "discourage and delegitimise dissent" was "likely to backfire".

 

 

The Russian authorities should overturn the court ruling and release the members of Pussy Riot immediately and unconditionally.

 

What Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samutsevich did was calculated to shock - and did shock many.

 

But in sentencing them to two years' imprisonment, Russia has set the limits of freedom of expression in the wrong place.

 

A number of measures restricting the freedom of expression and association have been introduced in response to the wave of protest that accompanied the recent parliamentary and presidential elections.

 

This trial is another example of the Kremlin's attempts to discourage and delegitimise dissent. It is likely to backfire.

 

 

12m ago

 

 

 

More reaction coming in now.

 

First is from the US embassy in Russia who has called the verdict "disproportionate" on its twitter feed.

 

The second is from the Russian state news agency Novosti's live blog who report a call for clemency from the Russian Orthodox church:

 

 

The Russian Orthodox Church called the verdict justified in a statement on Friday, but said it asks the authorities to pardon the Pussy Riot members.

 

More on the full statement when we receive it.

 

A much better article I've since found

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/human-rights..._b_1797649.html

Total injustice, the Eastern bloc is regressing towards totalitarianism - after brief glimpses of hope following the collapse of the Soviet Union it seems as if free speech and political freedoms are once again taking a blow, the same thing's happening in Ukraine...

 

Also it seems as if the relationship between state and church is strengthening once again, a throw back to the Tsarist era...

 

Edited August 17, 201212 yr by ñïćk

Jesus wept. Time to flee this hole.

My first thought when I heard this story was for poor Pav, he just doesn't stand a chance there. :(

 

Come to us Pav, come to us!

 

 

 

As for the event itself, I'm really horrified that it has happened. I knew things were getting bad in Russia but I was really shocked that they could possibly get 2 years for a protest.

There's no real doubt that they committed an offence. Protesting in a church they way they did could potentially leave them liable to prosecution here. However, the sentence is grossly disproportionate. Stephen Fry has been tweeting about it this morning. His advice - sensible as ever - is to persuade Putin that this incident is making him look a fool rather than achieving his desired aim of looking strong.

 

Of course, if Putin sees sense and orders their release the band can start planning for a lucrative world tour.

 

It's interesting to note that the American media have been very reluctant to name the band. NBC - the station famed for its dreadful coverage of the Olympics described them as "the punk rock girl band whose name we can't say on morning television".

The girls' closing statements.

 

Eloquent stuff that steadfastedly rejects any religious hate that they're accused of

 

http://nplusonemag.com/pussy-riot-closing-statements

Really cool band.

Fail

I would like to see Pussy Riot with Punk Prayer to be No.1 in U.k..It would be the most unpredictable No.1 in british music history..I know the vocals are not their best thing but i like their purpose. Also, they had the guts to sing this in the church and they knew that they would face the law..At least, they are not afraid like the most people do..