Amnesty Calls for Pussy Riot Freedom

Jailed for an anti-Putin art performance, the Russian girl punk band Pussy Riot is garnering support and solidarity from across the world. Human rights activists at Amnesty International are the latest to call for the ladies’ release from prison.

“Prisoners of conscience” is what Amnesty International has called Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, the three members of the band.

The girls of Pussy Riot faces up to seven years in jail for what the Russian government calls “hooliganism” after they were arrested and imprisoned for expressing free speech that defied Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is believed to have rigged the latest presidential election in order to maintain and extend power.

The feminist punk band performed a protest song called “Holy Shit” at Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral. The lyrics called out Russia’s religious support for Putin. Russian authorities have justified their harsh actions with the argument that the band committed an act of “religious hate.”

Amnesty International describes itself as a global movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights. The website’s homepage includes a pre-written plea that site visitors can sign and send to Moscow, urging for the bands release from prison.

According to Amnesty, family members of the three women as well as their lawyers have received threats and the Moscow police have not launched any investigation into the incidents. Tax authorities have reportedly blocked the bank account of the lawyers’ association where one of the lawyers representing Pussy Riot works.

Regarding the women’s imprisonment being extended another month before their case is heard; Germany’s Federal Human Rights Commissioner Markus Loning issued this statement last week:

I am appalled that the detention of the three artists has been extended yet again. This decision stands in clear opposition to freedom of opinion and artistic freedom, and is utterly disproportionate in light of the impact of what will soon be four months’ imprisonment of the women’s families and children.

I urge the Russian authorities to release the women without delay and to consider closing the case.

Pittsburgh punk rock band ANTI-FLAG recently recorded Punk Prayer “Virgin Mary, redeem us of Putin” and released it in protest of the extension of Pussy Riot’s pre-trial detention.

The bands website states: “The Russian authority’s actions against Pussy Riot are clearly an attack on freedom of thought, opinion and artistic expression which must be protected for any society to be free. Anti-Flag calls for the immediate release of Pussy Riot and all prisoners of conscience.”

Other bands such as First Things First, a Philadelphia pop-punk band is dedicating a song in solidarity with Pussy Riot during their nationwide summer tour.

Supporters of the Russian punkers call for the girls release from prison, an investigation into the threats received by the girls’ families and lawyers and to ensure their protection.

Under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, no one should be jailed for the peaceful exercise of free expression. So far, Vladimir Putin and the Russian authorities have adamantly stifled basic human rights.