A popular Moscow band is now gaining world wide attention as they prepare to appeal charges of "Hooliganism" in a human rights court. The charges came after the all punk rock band, Pussy Riot, entered Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow and began to make a music video to speak out against their president, Vladimir Putin. Pussy Riot was sentenced to two years, but they as well as others felt that the conviction was unjust.
The video, which depicted the Russian girl group singing out against the Russian president Vladimir Putin, quickly gained attention. Especially since it is known that President Validmir Putin does not take lightly to unwanted media attention. Putin has been known to make harsh crackdowns on media in the past, and the arrest of Pussy Riot is a true example of it. The song lyrics of "Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away," which was was the song the girls were singing while arrested was obviously a clear protest of Putin and was not taken lightly. There were many supporters of the group, but the girls were also arrested soon after. According to the Washington Post,
"the members who had entered the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in February to protest Russia’s growing authoritarianism and the church’s support of Putin were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, a criminal offense with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison."
Now, the girls are filing their appeal in Civil Rights Court in hopes that they will be able to get out of their conviction. The girl group has a list of supporters backing them, including several celebrities. Due to the fact and context of the case many are waiting to see the outcome and hoping that it will change Russia. According to wired.com, Jasmin Heiss of International USA states,
“It’s important to consider the fact that this case is happening in the context of really intense crackdowns on freedom of speech, freedom of expression, in Russia.”
The Russian government is not to flexible on issues such as these. It says a lot about the nation they live it. They are supposed to have a free media, however their President has harsh crackdowns whenever possible. It leaves the people under duress and in this case in jail and censored.
Above: Members of the popular Russian group. They currently await appeal in civil rights court. Picture provided by wired.com