In an explosive twist in the story that has dominated international music news over the past couple of months, three members of Russian Punk band Pussy Riot have been found guilty of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred".
A sentence of two years imprisonment for band members; Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich has just been handed down. The three members of the group were accused of performing a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin on the altar of the Cathedral Of Christ The Saviour Of The Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow on February 21 this year.
All three pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and since their arrest, support has flooded in from the music world, with Bjork, Madonna and Sir Paul McCartney all becoming vocal about the trail. Just yesterday, the former Beatle said in a letter posted on Facebook: “I would like you to know that I very much hope the Russian authorities would support the principle of free speech for all their citizens and not feel that they have to punish you for your protest”
McCartney added: “Many people in the civilised world are allowed to voice their opinions and as long as they do not hurt anyone in doing so I believe this is the best way forward for all societies. I hope you can stay strong and believe that I and many others like me who believe in free speech will do everything in our power to support you and the idea of artistic freedom”.
One gets the feeling that McCartney may not be back in the USSR anytime soon! The trial was widely criticised in the international media for its seemingly disproportionate response (you think?) designed to frighten anyone who dares to speak out against Putin, with public protests taking place across the Russian capital today as a verdict was reached.
Watch the video of Pussy Riot performing the so-called ‘Punk prayer’ below
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