Pussy Riot have been sentenced to two years in prison. The feminist trio have all been found guilty of ‘hooliganism motivated by religious hatred’ by the Russian court.
This comes after the band stormed Moscow’s cathedral in protest against the Russian Orthodox Church’s support from president Vladimir Putin. The incident back in February saw the women play their song, ‘Virgin Mary, Redeem Us of Putin’ by the alter. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill calling it ‘blasphemy.’
Their term has been criticised as “disproportionate” by the UK, US and the EU. They have already been detained for five months. The story of activists, Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, has attracted support from all over the world. Paul McCartney, Madonna and Red Hot Chili Peppers among many others have shown their support.
Political punk band Anti-Flag have also shown their support by donating money from some of their recent shows to the Free Pussy Riot campaign. They also recorded a version of Pussy Riot’s song to show their views on the right for free speech. Listen to it here:
