There has been widespread criticism of the sentencing of the three Pussy Riot women to two years in prison for their anti-Putin protest in a Moscow church.
Whether Putin or the courts take any notice remains to be seen.
Messages of support can be sent to the women – see the linked Amnesty web page for details.
Human Rights Watch has a report of the global attention the case has received, a positive sign despite the injustice.
Now there are reports of Moscow banning gay Pride marches for a century – yes, a century – following an application for Pride to be held each year by an activist.
See the linked Independent newspaper report.
Follow the news and Amnesty pages for any related actions.
Jon.
I’m sure the Russian people are as tech-savvy and globalised as much of the rest of the world, but their state is looking increasingly medieval and gangsterish – pussy riot are now a focus for change from inside, so let’s help them and keep the pressure on from outside: free pussy riot!
Yes, let’s help keep up the pressure. There have been voices of support from within Russia too, I read one tweet (Stephen Fry) that ex world chess champion Garry Kasparov, an opposition spokesman, had been arrested for speaking out.
One Pussy Riot closing statement expressed some frustration that there wasn’t more popular opposition to government misdeeds and corruption, indicating a certain lethargy – but then, when criticism is dealt with so harshly, people keep their heads down, not just in Russia…
Yes, free Pussy Riot! They won’t be forgotten, and could just prove genuinely damaging for the authoritarian regime of Vladimir Putin.
Jon.
Thanks Lowerarchy,
Like the video clip
Maybe Putin will go next year and flex his muscles
Jon.