News: P-U-S-S-Y Riot punk band sentenced to two years in prison in Russia

I saw Megan Rapinoe tweeting Kate Markgraf as I was clicking on this thread.

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It may not be popular, but it's hard to feel bad for them. They knew what they were doing and got what they wanted. Most articles downplay their actions and protests. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised by similar punishments in the US.

It is entertaining to watch serious newspeople saying "Pussy" every five seconds though.

 

I am sure we wouldn't sentence someone to two years hard labor, but I can't imagine a rock group (or any other) going into a sacred space and singing a song considered profane in that space not being arrested for trespassing. And if damage was done, then additional charges could certainly be filed, with jail time a possibility. It isn't their arrest that surprises me in the least, or even the six months they spent in jail.

 

I'm shocked the former head of the KGB would crush dissent.

And loosely translated through Spanish...it's a Puta/in Riot. No wonder why he's all nervous.

 

I agree the act of singing the song at the altar of a church is really poor taste and offensive. I completely understand why they would be arrested. The sentence is outrageous. It seems to me community service would have been the right sentence.

For maximum effect they should have performed at a public space like a subway station or the Kremlin.

 

There's no doubt the length they have already been in is already more than what can be justified. I simply give no credence to their "protests." It all comes off as petulant and immature and I can't rally behind that.

 

They should be sentenced because of the name of their "band" alone.

 

Let's not kid ourselves that their punishment has anything to do with the sacred space and being profane. It's purely for dissent against Putin. Anything else is just a smokescreen.

 

Let's not kid ourselves that they had no guts with respect to the directness of their protest. They would have been better served protesting at the Kremlin in Red Square or some other public place for higher visibility. They chose the cathedral expecting it would be the location with the least offense to Putin. When it was the Soviet Union, the state discouraged the practice of religion and made atheism the defacto state religion. For all practical purposes they probably believed a church seemed like a pretty safe place to protest.

 

I stand corrected, I was not aware they were protesting the Orthodox Churches involvement and support of Putin as well. Frankly, the church as an entity has little power. I'd be more concerned about the loss of freedoms and the alleged fixing of the last election under Putin and his cronies.

Is Putin really religious or is he using the Orthodox and other Churches to deflect criticism of his repressive policies?

Regardless of their position, they trespassed and broke the law. No question the punishment is excessive.

 

Sickening to read this.

 

Who would have thought that in the twenty some years since the fall of the iron curtain and the Soviet Union that the Orthodox Church would have such influence again in Russia. Good old Karl and Vladimir must be turning over in their graves and glass sarcophagus respectively.

Also, I had watched a report on the NBC nightly news on Friday and quite honestly, either I was not fully paying attention or they failed to make a strong case regarding the connection between Putin and the Orthodox Church Patriarch.

 

It's been fun hearing some outlets name the band and others say "a punk rock band has been sentenced in Russia" without ever mentioning the name. We're such pussies about things here.

 

The local affiliates try to stay away from it and say "band" and "punk band," but I think it's even greater that the national shows tend to use someone with an accent to say "Pussy."

 

We need Brokaw's stentorian delivery "A punk rawk group from Russia....pussy riot...has been sentenced to two years in jail today."

 

The Orthodox Church is a second cousin of Soviet authortarianism, passing through Putin, who is the first cousin of each. Authority figures for provincial Russian exceptionalists and staunch attackers on free thought.

 

Don't get out much, do you?

 

Great question. You can go ahead and explain your position now.

 

Sadly this is very true.

I was talking to a friend of mine who is Ukrainian and grew up in the old Soviet Union and he confirmed Putin is Orthodox for political convenience only. Nice symbiotic relationship. Putin uses the church for his political aims and the church leadership is too stupid and too willing to gain favor from Putin to resist.

Truly a sad state of affairs.

 

The Church is still stupid. What happens if Putin decides that he has no further use for the church. That's it's fulfilled his needs to provide a cover that he is a reasonable and god fearing man. Particularly if there is no longer a need for subterfuge. Clearly, that is the direction Russia has been on since Putin took power in 2000. Repression and corruption. Real old skool.

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