Written By Putin
"For all of us, even for those of us who didn't like this protest [in the cathedral], and I'm one of them, this was a demonstrative destruction of justice. This was the Inquisition." Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny
When Pussy Riot held their protest, performing a mock cancan wearing colourful clothing and ski masks - as a political protests against the Russian Orthodox Church's support of Vladimir Putin's return to ultimate power and his manipulation of the constitution - at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in February, the babushkas present there, did their best to hustle the young women out of the cathedral, knowing full well the fury that would fall on them.
The old Russian women, pious religious figures on their own, still had sympathy with the young women, enough so that though the young women were charged with blasphemous conduct, they were prepared to forgive and overlook the intrusion. Pussy Riot's performance of their 4-second "punk prayer", brought them the attention they craved, but it is highly unlikely they could have foreseen the reaction that ensued, landing them in prison to languish, awaiting a caricature of a trial.
At Khamovnichesky Court, Judge Marina Syrova characterized Pussy Riot's protest as "deeply insulting and disrespectful to Orthodox believers." For that unacceptably blasphemous act Nadezha Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich faced charges of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred". And now they have been sentenced. Two.more.years.
The support they have received from international celebrity figures, from Russian celebrities - Garry Kasparov, and other leading opposition activists, along with popular support from ordinary Russians not out for blood in support of President Putin's musical chairs act, led Mr. Putin to smirkingly suggest that the courts would be lenient in handing down a sentence for the young women, one reflective of the severity of their crime against society.
The crime, needless to say, was against the legitimacy of the ongoing political domination of Vladimir Putin in the affairs of Mother Russia. The demonstrations and gatherings in cities worldwide in favour of the women being released after their months of incarceration and separation from their families, taking place in cities like Toronto, New York, London and Paris, had no influence whatever on the outcome of the trial.
Judge Syrova took three hours to read out her verdict as she repeated witness testimony, claiming the women had performed "devilish dances" in the commission of their unforgiveable act of blasphemy. For their part, the women spoke quietly between themselves, smiled incredulously, then acceptingly of their punishment, for what else could they now do, but to put up a brave front?
After all, according to the judge, they planned to "provoke feelings of irritation and hatred", and this is the state's revenge for that audacious behaviour, in criticizing Vladimir Putin's grip on power and the resultant plight of their country.
Labels: Human Relations, Human Rights, Political Realities, Religion, Russia, Sexism, Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ Monday, August 20, 2012
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