Russia: Pussy Riot members jailed for two years
Moscow: A Russian court on Friday sentenced three members of girl punk band Pussy Riot to two years in prison each.
The trio were found guilty of hooliganism by a Moscow district court.
They performed a "punk prayer" calling on the Virgin Mary to "drive Putin out" and were arrested shortly after their performance.
They say they were protesting against the Orthodox Church's support for Putin ahead of the March 04 Presidential Elections, in which he won a third term in the Kremlin.
Judge Marina Syrova said Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, were guilty and would not be acquitted.
The judge said the action was carefully planned by an organised group.
"The defendants were aware of the offensive nature of their actions," she said. "They sought to publicise their act and provoke a public reaction; they wanted to insult not only church clergy but also the broad sections of society."
"They have deeply hurt and insulted the faithful," the judge said.
In the meantime, the Russian police have rounded up pro-Pussy Riot protesters, including former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, and leftist opposition group leader Sergei Udaltsov.
Hundreds of Pussy Riot supporters had filled a narrow street where the court is located, chanting "Russia without Putin!" amid heavy police presence.
Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/russia-pussy-riot-members-jailed-for-two-years_794241.html
The trio were found guilty of hooliganism by a Moscow district court.
They performed a "punk prayer" calling on the Virgin Mary to "drive Putin out" and were arrested shortly after their performance.
They say they were protesting against the Orthodox Church's support for Putin ahead of the March 04 Presidential Elections, in which he won a third term in the Kremlin.
Judge Marina Syrova said Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, were guilty and would not be acquitted.
The judge said the action was carefully planned by an organised group.
"The defendants were aware of the offensive nature of their actions," she said. "They sought to publicise their act and provoke a public reaction; they wanted to insult not only church clergy but also the broad sections of society."
"They have deeply hurt and insulted the faithful," the judge said.
In the meantime, the Russian police have rounded up pro-Pussy Riot protesters, including former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, and leftist opposition group leader Sergei Udaltsov.
Hundreds of Pussy Riot supporters had filled a narrow street where the court is located, chanting "Russia without Putin!" amid heavy police presence.
Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/russia-pussy-riot-members-jailed-for-two-years_794241.html
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