Free Pussy Riot

"Free Pussy Riot collective members Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova from Russian prison and drop all charges now. Write a letter of support pussriotsolidarity@gmail.com visit the site freepussyriot.org & donate/sign petition"

Free Pussy Riot

Free Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot masked

Pussy Riot masked

Detained Members of Pussy Riot

Detained Members of Pussy Riot

Free Pussy Riot

Free Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot: Punk-Prayer

Pussy Riot: Punk-Prayer
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Pussy Riot is an anonymous Russian feminist performance art group formed in October 2011. Through a series of peaceful performances in highly visible places, the group has given voice to basic rights under threat in Russia today, while expressing the values and principles of gender equality, democracy and freedom of expression contained in the Russian constitution and other international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the CEDAW Convention.

The three detained members of the art group Pussy Riot are:
Maria Alekhina, 24. Poet and Student at the Institute of Journalism and Creative writing. Mother of 5 year-old boy.
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23. Visual Artist and 4th year Philosophy Student. Mother of 4 year-old girl.
Ekaterina Samucevich, 29. Visual Artist,, degree from The Alexander Rodchenko School of Photography and Multimedia. Moscow

freepussyriot.org, an international team advocating for the release of Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samucevich, whom we would like to see reunited with their children, families, and supportive community.

The charges are of hooliganism that call for 7 years imprisonment for a 1-minute performance on February 21 in a priests-only section of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The investigator's report claims religious hatred. The intention of the performance was to draw attention to the special relationship with President Putin and the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church.

One week after the performance at Cathedral of Christ the Savior, an edited video piece appeared on Youtube, and a week after that the police were instructed to arrest the group's known members.

Since March 4th, the women have sat in pre-trial detention, refused bail due to the authorities' fear for the women's safety. Please refer to freepussyriot.org/news for the subsequent 4 months of news.

July 30 - August 15 Moscow's Khamovnichesky District Court will be considering the merits of the Pussy Riot case.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has recently made clear its intentions to hear a complaint registered by the defense team.

Supporting Organization:

Amnesty International
Austrian Green Party
European Women's Lobby
Free Muse
Human Rights Watch
Index of Censorship
PEN International
Russia's Human Rights Council

Appeal to Justice under UDHR, CEDAW and Russian Constitution

Three alleged members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot, Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samucevich, charged with "hooliganism", have been remanded in jail, facing up to 7 years criminal punishment for allegedly participating in the punk-prayer Virgin Mary, Send Putin Away that publicly demonstrated for human rights and against the current oppressive regime under Putin. The case illustrates the gross level of violations against human rights in Russia and requires immediate attention. The detained activists now need the support of the world's community.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE CASE
- Material verified by defense, N. Polozov, V.Volkova and M.Feygin

* 21 February 2012. "Pussy Riot", Russian Feminist Punk Band, performs a 'punk-prayer' with chorus"Virgin Mary, Become Feminist / Virgin Mary, Hash Putin Away" at the altar of the Christ the Savior cathedral in Moscow. The 'prayer' lasts for less than a minute after which the band-members are removed from the church by the guards.

* The same day a montaged video of the 'punk-prayer' is uploaded on the Youtube, going viral with over 600.000 views: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCasuaAczKY&feature=related

* In the following days Russian Orthodox Church initiates a criminal case against "Pussy Riot" legally incriminating the band with 'hooliganism' and maximum punishment of seven years incarceration . FSB Special Department on Terrorism takes on the case, while the Orthodox activists report the names of the alleged band-members on-line. Massive media/public smear-campaign against "blasphemous women" starts.

* 4 March 2012, the day of controversial presidential elections, two alleged band-members arrested: Maria Alyokhina (environmental activist) and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (civil activist) are incarcerated in Moscow. Both women declare hunger-strike in protest and exercise their right to silence under 51 article of Russian Constitution

* In violation of law that permits maximum 48 hrs detention on suspicion, women are remanded in prison prior to incrimination of official charges and in the absence of sufficient evidence to file such charges. Case of "Pussy Riot" ranked as 'of special importance' assigned an investigating team of five, headed by lieutenant - colonel A. Radchenkov. www.freepussyriot.org is launched

* 14 March 2012, defense appeal on pre-trial incarceration rejected. Both suspects remanded in prison till final trial on 24 April 2012 ( detailed report on hearing ). Scuffle breaks out in front of the court: ( see Reuters )

* 15 March 2012, Ekaterina Samutsevic, previously witness in the case, arrested on suspicion and remanded in prison till 24 April 2012. The third arrestee exercises her right to silence. Nadezhda and Maria are officially incriminated with 'hooliganism'.

* 19 March 2012, defense appeals for change of arrest measures against Ekaterina. All three women are reported, by defense, to be under illegal 24-hour video surveillance, while Maria and Nadezhda, both mothers, threaten by investigating team to lose their parental rights. Russian Orthodox Church, in its official statement calls authorities to take strictest possible measures against 'blasphemous women' and asks all sympathizing with arrested women Orthodoxes to join "Militant"/"Triumphant church of Russia.

* 28 March 2012, 14.10. Moscow City Court rejects an appeal on arrest of Ekaterina Samutsevich.

* 19 April 2012 Trial at Moscow City Court: Pre-Trial Arrest of Maria, Nadezhda and Ekaterina is extended till   24 June 2012

* 20 June 2012 June 20th Judge Elena Ivanova  maintains pre-trial detention

* 4 July  2012 Judge Konovalova at Tagansky District Court has ruled in the favor of Prosecutor Sam Kharkiv and Investigator Michael Kharkov to restricted the Pussy Riot Defense Team access to the Investigators report

* 9 July  2012 Appeal of exstention of pre-trial detention rejected

* 20 July 2012 at Moscow's Khamovnichesky District Court at the first closed door hearing the court rejected a defence plea for the women's release. Judge Victor Danilkin ordered Ms Tolokonnikova, Ms Alyokhina and Ms Samutsevich to stay in jail, extending their time in detention to 10 months. Their lawyers said they would appeal. Mark Feigin, acting for the three women, said he had asked to summon witnesses including Mr Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Source:
http://freepussyriot.org/about

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