Three members of punk band Pussy Riot have been jailed for two years prison in Russia for on hooliganism charges and, among other things, peddling “homosexual propaganda”. Hundreds of Pussy Riot supporters chanted amid a heavy police presence outside the courtroom, and several opposition leaders were detained as the sentence was read out. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, were arrested in March after performing a "punk prayer" in Christ the Savior Cathedral, dancing and high-kicking as they called on the Virgin Mary to save Russia from Putin, who was elected to a third term as Russia's president two weeks later. Amnesty International has condemned the court ruling, calling it a bitter blow for freedom of expression in Russia. Among the trio’s most vocal supporters has been bisexual musician Peaches, who has responded with the Facebook post: “The only thing these women are guilty of is telling the truth.” She has also rallied people to support the women in every way they can: “All you creators, let's take it to the next level! Balaclavas on public statues, post #freepussyriot art on the streets, make performance art, write your representatives, inform, educate, change. If you were imprisoned for unjust reasons, wouldn't you want someone to come to fight for you!? WE ARE ALL PUSSY RIOT!” Peaches has made a video in support of Pussy Riot, which you can watch below:
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 18th August 2012 - 12:12pm