Jailed Pussy Riot Members May Remain Imprisoned Without Trial Until January 2013
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Written by Elliott Batte
The three jailed members of Russian protest Pussy Riot may remain incarcerated for up to 11 months before they even see trial, it has been reported.
The punk-rock activists were arrested after a performance of ‘Holy Shit’ at a Moscow cathedral, in which they were protesting Russian president Vladimir Putin’s ‘immoral’ connections with the church.
They could potentially be charged with ‘hooliganism’, a crime that could lead to them being imprisoned for up to seven years if found guilty. But, it seems the three female locked-up members - Nadya, Masha and Katya - may not even receive a trial until January 2013 - 11 months after they were initially put in a cell back in February.
The brave punks were aware of the punishments they may be facing before they performed, and had previously said: “We knew what the political situation was but now we’re feeling the full force of Putin’s Kafka-esque machine. The state’s policy is based on a minimum of critical thinking and a maximum of spite.”
News of their possible long-stay comes after famous musicians and figures worldwide showed their support, with Amnesty International describing them as ‘political prisoners’ and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis wearing a Pussy Riot t-shirt.
Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos also joined in, stating: “Any world leader who claims to be a fan of the Beatles and John Lennon, then attempts to imprison contemporary musicians who express political views, is the worst kind of hypocrite.”
What do you think of the whole situation? Let us know in the comments section below.
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