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Pussy Riot: Russia prosecutors seek three years' jail | Pussy Riot: Russia prosecutors seek three years' jail |
(40 minutes later) | |
Russian prosecutors have asked for three years' in prison for three women musicians accused of inciting religious hatred during a protest in a cathedral. | |
The three members of the punk band Pussy Riot played a song attacking Russian leader Vladimir Putin in front of an altar on 21 February. | The three members of the punk band Pussy Riot played a song attacking Russian leader Vladimir Putin in front of an altar on 21 February. |
They told the court their performance was a political act, not aimed at hurting the feelings of believers. | |
Supporters of the women have condemned the case as disproportionate. | Supporters of the women have condemned the case as disproportionate. |
Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, could have faced a maximum sentence of seven years. | Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, could have faced a maximum sentence of seven years. |
They sought to justify their performance of the "punk prayer" by saying it was a reaction to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, publicly backing Mr Putin in elections. | They sought to justify their performance of the "punk prayer" by saying it was a reaction to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, publicly backing Mr Putin in elections. |
Last week, Mr Putin, who was re-elected president in March, called for leniency towards the women during a visit to London for the Olympic Games. | Last week, Mr Putin, who was re-elected president in March, called for leniency towards the women during a visit to London for the Olympic Games. |
There are fears among Russian opposition activists that the trial is part of a crackdown on dissent since Mr Putin's return to the Kremlin, following the biggest anti-government protests in modern Russian history. | |
'Abuse of God' | 'Abuse of God' |
"The actions of the accomplices clearly show religious hatred and enmity," state prosecutor Alexei Nikiforov said in closing arguments. | "The actions of the accomplices clearly show religious hatred and enmity," state prosecutor Alexei Nikiforov said in closing arguments. |
"Using swear words in a church is an abuse of God." | "Using swear words in a church is an abuse of God." |
He said the women had "set themselves up against the Orthodox Christian world". | |
Given the "severity" of the crime, he argued, the "requisite punishment must be a real deprivation of freedom". | |
The appearance of Pussy Riot inside Christ the Saviour Cathedral and the ensuing chaotic scenes were captured on video. | The appearance of Pussy Riot inside Christ the Saviour Cathedral and the ensuing chaotic scenes were captured on video. |
Wearing their trademark coloured balaclavas, the women danced and sang a song which parodies a Christian prayer, imploring the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Mr Putin. | Wearing their trademark coloured balaclavas, the women danced and sang a song which parodies a Christian prayer, imploring the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Mr Putin. |
The song, which has an obscene chorus, also appears to mock Patriarch Kirill himself. | The song, which has an obscene chorus, also appears to mock Patriarch Kirill himself. |
The prosecution of the women, who have been on remand for five months and two of whom have small children, has caused concern both within Russia and abroad. | |
International musicians including Sting and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have appealed for leniency. | |
"Dissent is a legitimate and essential right in any democracy and modern politicians must accept this fact with tolerance," Sting said in a statement carried by Amnesty International last month. | |
"A sense of proportion - and a sense of humour - is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. Surely the Russian authorities will completely drop these spurious charges and allow the women, these artists, to get back to their lives and to their children?" | |
However, feelings about the case within Russian society, where the Orthodox Church has enjoyed a revival since the collapse of the atheistic USSR, have been mixed. |