Two Members of Pussy Riot have Fled Russia to Avoid Prosecution
By Steve Kinsman, 26th Aug 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsPolitics
Fearing prosecution, two members of the punk rock band Pussy Riot have fled Russia to the safety of another country
Fleeing prosecution
Two members of the Russian punk rock band Pussy Riot, according to Reuters, have fled the country in order to escape prosecution by the government. Both members participated in the concert in February of this year at Christ the Savior Cathedral where they performed the song Punk Prayer, calling on the Virgin Mary to "put Putin out."
After sentencing three of the group - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yakaterina Samutsevich - to two year prison terms for "hooliganism," Russia has received harsh criticism from human rights groups around the world. Nevertheless, police in Russia have said they are actively searching for other members of the band.
A tweet from a Twitter account called Pussy Riot Group read: "In regard to the pursuit, two of our members have successfully fled the country! They are recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new actions!"
Guardian interviews husband
In an interview with the Guardian, Pyotor Verzilov, Tolokonnikova's husband, said the two members had taken part in the cathedral protest along with his wife. "Since the Moscow police said they are searching for them, they will keep a low profile for now. They are in a safe place beyond the reach of the Russian police."
Asked if that meant a country which did not have an extradition treaty with Russia, Verzilov replied, "Yes, that suggests that," and he added, "But you must remember that 12 or 14 members who are still in Russia actively participate in the band's work now; it's a big collective."
Although the Kremlin has received much criticism from western governments and from superstars such as Madonna and Sting, it is dismissing the protests as "politically motivated."
Links: Pussy Riot Girls Sentenced to Two Years in Prison
Feminist Punk Rockers Begin Hunger Strike in Russia
Photos from huffingtonpost.com
Comments
27th Aug 2012 (#)
Pretty hard to deny political motivation I should think.
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27th Aug 2012 (#)
another great page Steve...it is so important to share this with the world....
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27th Aug 2012 (#)
What seems harmless could snowball - looks like the government is afraid of own people. Thanks for the share, Steve - siva
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28th Aug 2012 (#)
Great page steve, but the conduct of this group does not find my approval. Frankly only the USA and UK seem to be concerned about them. Thats politics.
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28th Aug 2012 (#)
I think their conduct was exemplary in a repressive, oppressive society as Russia's is. They are helping to raise consciousness with an enslaved people.
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