Pussy Riot Trial: The Beginning of the End Of the Trail & The Irony Of It All

Like in the United States dissent is a legitimate and essential right in Russia, hell, it’s the corner stone to any democracy, however, I guess in Russia just don’t do it in church. Especially, and the case can be made, that the Orthodox Church in Russia has enjoyed a revival since the fall of communism and their atheist beliefs.

Now, in my eyes anyway, Russia is starting to look and act more like a fundamentalist Arab country like Iran. Which is strange because I was always told that President Putin was old school hard liner, a throw back to the days of the communist party.

In closing arguments this week, Prosecutor Alexei Nikiforov said, "The actions of the accomplices clearly show religious hatred and enmity. Using swear words in a church is an abuse of God. And given the "severity" of the crime, "requisite punishment” must be a real deprivation of freedom.” (Alexei Nikiforov is looking to get a three (3) year sentence.)

Ah, yeah, NO.

Now here is the thing: Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, all face charges of Article 13 for Hooliganism, and in that charge there says nothing about speaking out against the church or their beliefs. Actually the charge is as follows:

　
　
Article 213. Hooliganism


1. Hooliganism, that is, a gross violation of the public order which expresses patent contempt for society, attended by violence against private persons or by the threat of its use, and likewise by the destruction or damage of other people's property,
shall be punishable by compulsory works for a term of 120 to 180 hours, or by corrective labor for a term of six to twelve months, or by arrest for a term of four to six months, or by deprivation of liberty for a term of up to two years.
2. The same act, if it is:
a) committed by a group of persons, a group of persons in a preliminary conspiracy, or an organized group;
b) connected with resistance to a representative of authority or to any other person who fulfills the duty of protecting the public order or who prevents violation of the public order;
c) committed by a person who was earlier convicted of hooliganism-
shall be punishable by compulsory works for a term of 180 to 240 hours, or by corrective labor for a term of one to two years, or by deprivation of liberty for a term of up to five years.
3. Hooliganism committed with the use of arms or objects used as arms
shall be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of four to eight years.

　
And from my understanding of what happened “Pussy Riot” did none of these things except express a “patent contempt” for the re-election Vladimir Putin and his ties with Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and is what is a clearly lined out in the Russian Constitution committed a clear violation of it by publicly backing Putin in elections. No violence occurred as well no property was damaged during the performance.

This is starting to look more as a show boat of a trial (think Kangaroo court which I have already written about in this case), Putin, using the church to further new laws when it comes to demonstrations against the Kremlin in the wake of the biggest anti-government protests in modern Russian history. And what better way to do it than with fear and outrage, a little slight of hand if you will.

And now slight of hand and misdirection is being used against those from abroad that are speaking out in this case. Namely Madonna who has a planned concert in Moscow coming up on Tuesday. Madonna has told reporters that it would be "a tragedy" if the women were sentenced to prison. Stating: "I am against censorship and in my whole career I have always promoted freedom of expression, freedom of speech, so obviously I think what's happening to them is unfair."

As you might have thought, her words have angered many on the other side of this case who are now accusing Madonna of interfering in the country's internal affairs. Laughable by us, yes, but with the growing divide between Russians over the matter it becomes a concern especially now with religious figures vowing to stage protests outside Madonna's Moscow concert and another performance this week in Saint Petersburg. Ah, the irony in all that. I love the fact that they feel no qualms at all about protesting Madonna with Kirill Frolov, of the Orthodox Experts Association, saying, "We will drop by to say 'no' to blasphemy... and to explain our position to those who plan to attend her concert.” And also telling Interfax news agency: "A woman calling herself Madonna who intends to desecrate the cross, we will not stand for that.”

Now if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black!

Guess we all now have to sit and wait for is surely going to be a conviction of the three women. But how long that sentence will be is anybody’s best guess.

No Love for the Pussy [Riot] in Mother Russia

Their tight, skimpy dresses clash with the brightly colored balaclavas that adorn their heads and mask their faces like armor as they charge head first into an arena where anything can and will happen. They see themselves as defenders and even, possibly, martyrs for their cause.

PUSSY RIOT may be an all female Russian punk rock band modeled after 90’s acts such as Bikini Kill and Riot Grrrl but their message is loud and clear. Pussy Riot takes to the cold Russian streets staging impromptu concerts on such subjects as the status of women in Russia and the importance of feminist discourse and a non-standard female image usually with politically loaded lyrics. And most recently they have set their angry eyes upon the recent election, namely their dislike of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Joining the growing protest of the fact that he [Putin] is once again re-elected to the top office of the country [Russia]. Staging a show at the at Russia Orthodox Church, The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where the Maidens preformed a controversial punk prayer that contained lyrics saying “Holy Mother, Blessed Virgin” to “chase Putin out and mocks Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church back on February 21^st.

Alleged band members (the reason for the balaclavas is to keep their identities concealed for fear of prosecution) Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were arrested on March 3^rd. Both women have denied being in the punk group or taking part in the performance. A third woman, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was arrested on March 15^th. All three women are facing up to seven years behind bars for the charge of Hooliganism. Police are saying that Tolokonnikova had committed an illegal act “in a cynical way in a holy place, setting herself against society.”

The arrests have set off protests around world including Australia and the United Kingdom, and just last Thursday some 20 protesters were detained when the Moscow court ruled that the women were to be held until their hearing which has now been pushed back until June 24^th of this year after the court had previously ordered the women held until April 24^th. Investigators arguing that Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich “could become the targets of criminal acts” if they were released. Investigators also saying that they needed more time to search for witnesses and other participants in the unauthorized concert. Tolokonnikova asked the court to be released do to that she has suffered head pain while in jail and has not been given access to medical care at the detention facility and wanted to obtain a diagnosis before the possibility of being subjected to prison time. Also she argued that her 4-year-old daughter was suffering psychologically because of their separation due to her arrest. Mark Feigin, Tolokonnikova’s lawyer presented statements at the hearing Thursday from federal human rights watchdog the Public Oversight Commission and from members of the Moscow police's public chamber requesting that Tolokonnikova be freed.

Hundreds of demonstrators and members of the media converged on the Tagansky Court building in Moscow ahead of the 3 p.m. hearing, brandishing signs and wearing a T-shirt with slogans expressing support for the group. The jailing of the purported Pussy Riot members, who see themselves as political prisoners, has provoked outrage among human rights defenders and opposition activists such as Amnesty International and have held rallies in recent weeks to protest the detentions.

Although, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church have criticized the women and Pussy Riot's performance but have said they do not want them to receive prison time.