Russia criticized for being harsh on members of the Pussy Riot punk band

20 August, 2012

A Russian court has sentenced three members of the Pussy Riot punk band to two years in jail. Their crime was holding a political protest in an Orthodox cathedral.

THE WORLD community and many Raussians have reacted adversely to the sentence and found the punishment harsh and disproportionate to the offence. Madonna, has also voiced her support for the Russian punk band Pussy Riot.

The court held that the three protesters had shown a disrespect toward society by staging a ‘Punk Prayer’ calling on the Virgin Mary to drive out Vladimir Putin before his election to a third presidential term.

According to priest Andrei Kurayev, the whole verdict was based on a very shaky foundation and appealed mercy for the convicted.

Meanwhile, 50 odd protesters detained outside the court in Moscow last Friday and later released.

It may be recalled that it was on February 21, 2012, the members of the Pussy Riot punk band had tried to stage a performance at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour against Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church. Though they were stopped by church security officials, but when on March 3, their performance video appeared online; three of the group members were arrested and charged with hooliganism.