Russian Punk Band Is Found Guilty of Hooliganism for Anti-Putin Protest

[tfcrew]

August 17, 2012    66 Comments        MOSCOW — A Moscow judge delivered guilty verdicts on Friday afternoon against three young women who staged a protest against Vladimir V. Putin in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior last February and whose jailing and trial on hooliganism charges have generated worldwide criticism of constraints on political speech in Russia.       

The verdicts, against three members of a band called Pussy Riot, were widely expected, and suspense had built over how severe a punishment they would receive.

Note photos and comments....

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/world/europe/suspense-ahead-of-verdict-for-jailed-russian-punk-band.html

[Ranetka]

Note photos and comments....

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/world/europe/suspense-ahead-of-verdict-for-jailed-russian-punk-band.html

And rightly so. I have seen some video of their show in working Orthodox Church and it is on my opinion as much hooliganism and public disorder also actions causing public distress as it can be. I also feel as a punk group they do not really care what to protest about :-)


I hope Mendeleyev will comment, it's interesting to see how he would feel as both Anti-Putin supporter and devoted Orthodox believer.

[Shadow]

Knowing the power of the Orthodox Church no surprise here.
Though I doubt anyone will get the issue that they could have protested anywhere  else and get away with it, or receive a minor punishment.
 

[tfcrew]

Prosecutors want 3 years in the gulag    for these criminals.

There are cocaine dealers here in this country getting off now with less.

Were this band [and these events] in NYC, they would only start selling a lot more of their music because of the publicity.
 

[Muzh]

And rightly so. I have seen some video of their show in working Orthodox Church and it is on my opinion as much hooliganism and public disorder also actions causing public distress as it can be. I also feel as a punk group they do not really care what to protest about :-)


I hope Mendeleyev will comment, it's interesting to see how he would feel as both Anti-Putin supporter and devoted Orthodox believer.

Not only that, but a member of the Fourth Estate.

[Ranetka]

Knowing the power of the Orthodox Church no surprise here.
Though I doubt anyone will get the issue that they could have protested anywhere  else and get away with it, or receive a minor punishment.

They would have to re-saint (sorry I do not know the proper term for that) the Church, plus it's not just a Church it's one of the holiest most important Cathedrals plus it's upset so many people who believe.


In the country with so many different denominations and so many people who are Orthodox any action like this should not be a joke. They are lucky they got hooliganism and not terrorism call (not sure how to translate properly, sorry), that's up to 8 years. Hooliganism is up to 5 years prison by the way, the judge took into account it's their first crime plus underage kids.


No sympathy from me, no. They wanted a publicity stunt, well they got it.

[Ranetka]

Prosecutors want 3 years in the gulag    for these criminals.

There are cocaine dealers here in this country getting off now with less.

Were this band [and these events] in NYC, they would only start selling a lot more of their music because of the publicity.
 

Well I for one do not care how it is in NYC. They should abide by Russian Law, thank you. When they move to NYC they can protest in the biggest synagogue there as much as they like.

[Muzh]

A shot in the back of the head, for old times sakes.

[Ranetka]

Well I for one do not care how it is in NYC. They should abide by Russian Law, thank you. When they move to NYC they can protest in the biggest synagogue there as much as they like.

I also feel Americans with their three strike law should not be cry over hard prosecution. I heard one could get 25 years for nicking stuff from the shop (classified as burglary) providing it's for the third time?

[Ranetka]

A shot in the back of the head, for old times sakes.

What they did is a crime.
The paragraph (article) the judge used fits[size=78%] [/size][size=78%] their crime precisely.[/size]
The sentence is precisely how it is outlined in the Codex of Law (Russia has Codex of Law outlining sentences) taking account of mitigating circumstances.


I do not care what they protested about, they deserve what they got.


Stupidity/artistic expressions/being Anti-Putin is no excuse.


I do not see the need for you to be sarcastic.

[Muzh]

What they did is a crime.
The paragraph (article) the judge used fits[size=78%] their crime precisely.[/size]
The sentence is precisely how it is outlined in the Codex of Law (Russia has Codex of Law outlining sentences) taking account of mitigating circumstances.


I do not care what they protested about, they deserve what they got.


Stupidity/artistic expressions/being Anti-Putin is no excuse.


I do not see the need for you to be sarcastic.

I was NOT being sarcastic. From what I've read so far, it seems your country is going back to the good old days.

[Ranetka]

From what I've read so far, it seems your country is going back to the good old days.

Depending just how far back might not be a bad thing.

[The Natural]

I agree with Ranetka here. The hypocracy in the west is staggering. I guess one can find many examples, but one that spring to mind is the man (don't remember his name) who publicly denied that as many as 6 million jews were killed by the Nazis. He argued the number was far less. Well, no freedom of speech there as he was arrested in Canada and sent to Germany where he served several years in prison for stating his opinion. In several of the European countries it is ILLEGAL to publicly question the sacred 6 million number.

[ML]

In several of the European countries it is ILLEGAL to publicly question the sacred 6 million number.

Is it based on the number, or is it just to state that the holocaust never happened?

[Shadow]

I agree with Ranetka here. The hypocracy in the west is staggering. I guess one can find many examples, but one that spring to mind is the man (don't remember his name) who publicly denied that as many as 6 million jews were killed by the Nazis. He argued the number was far less. Well, no freedom of speech there as he was arrested in Canada and sent to Germany where he served several years in prison for stating his opinion. In several of the European countries it is ILLEGAL to publicly question the sacred 6 million number.

It is illegal to deny or question the genocide that is proven to have happened.
There is no law that explicitly forbids to discuss the number of victims.

[tfcrew]

Depending just how far back might not be a bad thing.

So how far back?
My wife suggests that this USA needs some good ole' Stalinism. 
In many ways I agree.
None nyet complain

[The Natural]

It is illegal to deny or question the genocide that is proven to have happened.
There is no law that explicitly forbids to discuss the number of victims.

That may or may not be so, I don't exactly know. I think however, that even making "opinions" illegal, whether true or untrue, flies in the face of the so-called free west. This man was arrested and it was said that "material published by Zundel might cause “like-minded individuals to engage in violence.”

Well, might not the same be said of the punk group or other protesters in Russia who is trying to ignite an Arab-style revolution in Russia? I think so and repeat what I've said before that Putin is the best think to happen to Russia, as well as for the rest of us who want an end to the endless wars of agression orchestrated by certain mad people in position of power in the west.
 
http://www.ihr.org/news/030923Zundel.shtml

[tfcrew]

I was NOT being sarcastic. From what I've read so far, it seems your country is going back to the good old days.

Not sure which country this is.

[Ranetka]

Not sure which country this is.

Both are mine.

[Muzh]

Not sure which country this is.

Let's not assume being the fool here.

You want Stalinism in the US? Go for it. See how far you can go with it. W tried that with Cheney and almost got there. We are paying for that right now.

Want to complete the cycle so you are asked for "papers?"

Sometimes it is easier to ask for the devil than seeing him come to you.

[Jumper]

Prosecutors want 3 years in the gulag    for these criminals.

There are cocaine dealers here in this country getting off now with less.

Were this band [and these events] in NYC, they would only start selling a lot more of their music because of the publicity.
 

Well. probably  true!!


but lets pretend a young punk rock band named *pussy riot*,
dashes into the
St Petes Catholic church in new york,
disrupting the patrons ,chanting/singing  insults against the church , the faith,
and against the Obama administration, refusing to leave.


you really think they wouldn't face criminal charges?


People forget *pussy riot* did a similar demonstration?  in Red square earlier in the year
and nothing happened at all?
Its why they stepped up their game.
lol

[Jumper]

Well I for one do not care how it is in NYC. They should abide by Russian Law, thank you. When they move to NYC they can protest in the biggest synagogue there as much as they like.

That's a good  point,
in the US, they couldn't do so inside a church that they were unwelcome at.
They would have the right to protest,
they wouldn't have the right to do so on some Churchs property that doesn't want them there.
And certainly not a high profile Church here, (similar to what they did in Moscow)

[Ranetka]

That's a good  point,
in the US, they couldn't do so inside a church that they were unwelcome at.
They would have the right to protest,
they wouldn't have the right to do so on some Churchs property that doesn't want them there.
And certainly not a high profile Church here, (similar to what they did in Moscow)

Would that make them trespassers? I thought you can shot trespassers in the US? (genuinely not sure if trespasser refuses to leave can you shoot them in the US?)

[Jumper]

So how far back?
My wife suggests that this USA needs some good ole' Stalinism. 
In many ways I agree.
None nyet complain

Well, .lets see,exactly how far back? that gets intriguing for me..
I would say it  gets into shades of grey and discomfort in a just a couple generations here?
My grandfather (part) and grandmother(full) were Sioux.Before any speculation, they were also just simple farmers, never mentioned their heritage as it was a curse in their youth.
(Several of my great uncles died in WWII as well)




good o'l stalinism?


Millions died under Stalin,, for the greater good?
I just cant see much  done during the regime as actually beneficial, or worthy duplicating.

[Ranetka]

Well, .lets see,exactly how far back? that gets intriguing for me..
I would say it  gets into shades of grey and discomfort in a just a couple generations here?
My grandfather (part) and grandmother(full) were Sioux.Before any speculation, they were also just simple farmers, never mentioned their heritage as it was a curse in their youth.
(Several of my great uncles died in WWII as well)




good o'l stalinism?


Millions died under Stalin,, for the greater good?
I just cant see much  done during the regime as actually beneficial, or worthy duplicating.

I voiced my opinion regarding perestroyka etc many times.


Regarding Stalinism...lets say I see no point of discussing this on RWD.


One food for thought - once a few years ago I was watching documentary about how a huge dam was built in the US in the either 30s or 20s. I was shocked by the conditions, what long hours people had to work for little pay without any health and safety and under harsh (very hot) weather conditions.
I thought about how Siberian dams were built. By prisoners. What was the difference? Soviet prisoners could not get alcohol or prostitutes and they did it under the threat of a gun. American workers had to do it under the threat of hunger death (no work-no money-no food-no medicine etc). How important is this difference?? You have a choice - work or die, does it matter why you need to make this choice?