A while back we told you about Pussy Riot, the feminist punk-rock collective based in Russia who managed to piss off that country’s notoriously dickish President, Vladimir Putin, by daring to make an anti-Putin song. To compound matters, they performed the song outside Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral — Putin had them tossed in jail. This morning they were convicted of “hooliganism” in a joke of a court proceeding and now face 3 years in prison, according to various news reports. (UPDATE: the girls were each sentenced to two years in prison.)
Judge Marina Syrova said the women had “crudely undermined social order” during their action in February.
The women say their “punk prayer” was a political act in protest against the Russian Orthodox Church leader’s support of President Vladimir Putin.
Prosecutors are seeking a three-year jail sentence.
The verdict is still being read out.
Judge Syrova said Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, had offended the feelings of Orthodox believers and shown a “complete lack of respect”.
“Tolokonnikova, Alyokhina and Samutsevich committed hooliganism – in other words, a grave violation of public order,” she said.
I call on Mitt Romney to step forward and plea to Putin to reduce the charges to “tomfoolery,” mainly because I want to hear Mitt Romney say “Pussy Riot.”
As you can imagine, social media is going nuts over the verdict. I can’t imagine how sad Alicia Silverstone must feel right now knowing that her vegan-themed letter to Putin did not help garner the girls any sympathy from him.
If only Neve Campbell had gotten involved!
