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Pussy Riot pair visit court in show of solidarity with anti-Putin protesters Pussy Riot pair visit court in show of solidarity with anti-Putin protesters
(about 11 hours later)
In the grim, cramped lobby of Zamoskvoretsky district court in Moscow, Pussy Riot's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina stood in a group of 30 people, eyes glued to a big screen airing a live broadcast of a trial under way in the building.In the grim, cramped lobby of Zamoskvoretsky district court in Moscow, Pussy Riot's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina stood in a group of 30 people, eyes glued to a big screen airing a live broadcast of a trial under way in the building.
The recently released prisoners re-entered the public sphere as free women on Thursday eager to use their star status to help other victims of political persecution. The eight people in the dock had been arrested following clashes between protesters and riot police at Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on 6 May 2012, the eve of Vladimir Putin's third inauguration as Russian president.The recently released prisoners re-entered the public sphere as free women on Thursday eager to use their star status to help other victims of political persecution. The eight people in the dock had been arrested following clashes between protesters and riot police at Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on 6 May 2012, the eve of Vladimir Putin's third inauguration as Russian president.
Showing little sign of their 22-month prison ordeal, the women were energised. Tolokonnikova told the Guardian that neither of them had stopped to rest following their release, instead embarking immediately on creating an organisation to help Russian prisoners. Showing little sign of their 22-month prison ordeal, the women were energised. Tolokonnikova said neither of them had stopped to rest following their release, instead embarking immediately on creating an organisation to help Russian prisoners.
"The authorities have made a grave mistake by jailing us. We emerged from prison even stronger and more resolute," she said."The authorities have made a grave mistake by jailing us. We emerged from prison even stronger and more resolute," she said.
Perhaps aware of the international gaze that follows the women, the judge softened her previous ban on activists and journalists in the courtroom, allowing in a handful.Perhaps aware of the international gaze that follows the women, the judge softened her previous ban on activists and journalists in the courtroom, allowing in a handful.
"You can consider our appearance here as a protest and a gesture of solidarity with people who have been in pre-trial detention for over year although they are innocent," said Alyokhina during a cigarette break. "You can consider our appearance here as a protest and a gesture of solidarity with people who have been in pre-trial detention for over year although they are innocent," said Alyokhina.
The women did not draw a crowd of supporters. In front of the building a solitary female picketer stood holding a poster of the prisoners.The women did not draw a crowd of supporters. In front of the building a solitary female picketer stood holding a poster of the prisoners.
Several of the suspects on trial had spent 18 months in Moscow's remand centres, living in conditions worse than those in penal colonies where the Pussy Riot members served their sentences.Several of the suspects on trial had spent 18 months in Moscow's remand centres, living in conditions worse than those in penal colonies where the Pussy Riot members served their sentences.
Most are rank-and-file activists or unaffiliated protesters charged with participation in mass riots and using violence against the police. The charges are almost entirely based on claims made by riot police. Most are rank-and-file activists or unaffiliated protesters charged with participation in mass riots and using violence against the police. The charges are almost entirely based on claims made by riot police, who have been confusing names and making bizarrely contradictory statements throughout the trial.
"[These] people are even more important than us because there was an element of art in what we did, but they were arrested for a straightforward political protest," Tolokonnikova said. She dismissed the trial as "politically motivated and biased"."[These] people are even more important than us because there was an element of art in what we did, but they were arrested for a straightforward political protest," Tolokonnikova said. She dismissed the trial as "politically motivated and biased".
"Even today you could see how the judge was turning down every request made by the defence and upholding every request by the prosecution," she said."Even today you could see how the judge was turning down every request made by the defence and upholding every request by the prosecution," she said.
Only four Bolotnaya Square suspects qualified for release under the amnesty Putin issued in late December that freed the Pussy Riot members two months earlier than scheduled. Only four Bolotnaya Square suspects qualified for release under the amnesty Putin issued in late December that freed the Pussy Riot members two months earlier than scheduled.
"This selective amnesty was not an act of humanism. It was only aimed at reducing tensions in relations with the west," Tolokonnikova said. "It happened because Putin is afraid that Olympic Games in Sochi will be boycotted.""This selective amnesty was not an act of humanism. It was only aimed at reducing tensions in relations with the west," Tolokonnikova said. "It happened because Putin is afraid that Olympic Games in Sochi will be boycotted."
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