Pussy Riot Members Speak Out During Final Day Of Trial
Thursday, 09 August 2012
Written by Elliott Batte
The three detained female members of Russian protest/activist group Pussy Riot have spoken out about their trial this week, stating that it is the Russian government that is on trial - and that they are ‘afraid of the truth’.
The group were performing a protest at a Cathedral in Russia, playing the song ‘Holy Shit’ as a reference to the government’s seemingly corrupt relationship with president Vladimir Putin, when they were taken away by guards and then arrested. Three female members of the group are currently in court facing charges of hooliganism - a crime punishable by up to seven years - and are now in their final day of trial.
Speaking out in trial, bandmember Nadia Tolokonikovoy said: “This is a trial of the whole government system of Russia, which so likes to show its harshness toward the individual, its indifference to his honour and dignity… If this political system throws itself against three girls… it shows this political system is afraid of truth.”
Then, the Guardian reports, she looked at the prosecution and said: “Even though we are behind bars, we are freer than those people. We can say what we want, while they can only say what political censorship allows. Maybe they think it wouldn't be wrong to try us for speaking against Putin and his system, but they can't say that because it's been forbidden.”
Her bandmate Maria Alyokhina continued: “We are not guilty – the whole world is talking about it,” referring to the huge coverage the story has received over the world - even attracting interest from artists and bands such as Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Franz Ferdinand.
“I am not scared of you. I'm not scared of lies and fiction, or the badly formed deception that is the verdict of this so-called court. Because my words will live, thanks to openness. When thousands of people will read and watch this, this freedom will grow with every caring person who listens to us in this country.”
Each of the female members were clapped by Russian journalists as they finished their statements - you can check that out in the embedded video below.
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