Pussy Riot Members Sentenced To Two Years Each For Hooliganism

Robbie Daw | August 17, 2012 9:26 am

Moscow judge Marina Syrova sentenced the three jailed members of Pussy Riot to two years in prison each today in what was a blow to the band, as well as their supporters who had decried Russia’s intolerance to political dissent. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich reportedly stood in handcuffs in a glass cage in the courtroom for three hours as the judge read the verdict. They were officially charged with “hooliganism driven by religious hatred.”

The three band members were arrested in March after they staged an illegal performance at Moscow’s Cathedral Of Christ The Savior as a protest against the reinstatement of President Vladimir Putin. Since then, a score of artists (including Paul McCartney,Beastie Boys, Bjork and Pet Shop Boys) and organizations have expressed outrage at the charges and have called for Nadezhda, Maria and Yekaterina’s release. “Everywhere in the world, as human beings, we should have the right to express our opinions and still be treated as human beings,” Madonna in a speech she delivered regarding Pussy Riot during her Moscow tour stop last week. [Via USA Today]

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