This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-security-forces-attack-pussy-riot-members-with-whips-9138897.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russian security forces attack Pussy Riot members with whips | Russian security forces attack Pussy Riot members with whips |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Russian security forces attacked members of the Pussy Riot punk group with horsewhips on Wednesday as the group tried to perform in Sochi, the Olympic host city. | Russian security forces attacked members of the Pussy Riot punk group with horsewhips on Wednesday as the group tried to perform in Sochi, the Olympic host city. |
| Five female group members and one male emmber donned their signature ski masks and were pulling out a guitar and microphone as at least 10 Cossacks and other security officials moved in. Cossaks are used by Russian police to patrol the streets. | Five female group members and one male emmber donned their signature ski masks and were pulling out a guitar and microphone as at least 10 Cossacks and other security officials moved in. Cossaks are used by Russian police to patrol the streets. |
| The punk group had gathered at a nearby restaurant before heading out onto the street. | The punk group had gathered at a nearby restaurant before heading out onto the street. |
| One Cossack appeared to use pepper spray, another whipped several group members while others ripped off their masks and threw the guitar in a garbage can. | One Cossack appeared to use pepper spray, another whipped several group members while others ripped off their masks and threw the guitar in a garbage can. |
| One Pussy Riot member, a man wearing a bright yellow tank top, was left with blood on his face, saying he had been pushed to the ground. | One Pussy Riot member, a man wearing a bright yellow tank top, was left with blood on his face, saying he had been pushed to the ground. |
| The Cossacks pulled masks from women's heads, allegedly beating group member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova with a whip as she lay on the ground, according to The Associated Press. | |
| Police arrived and questioned witnesses, but no one was arrested. | |
| Ms Alyokhina and Ms Tolokonnikova were released after being detained near the site of the Winter Olympics in downtown Sochi yesterday. | |
| In 2012, Ms Tolokonnikova, alongside fellow band members Ms Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after performing a protest song highly critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s main cathedral. | In 2012, Ms Tolokonnikova, alongside fellow band members Ms Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after performing a protest song highly critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s main cathedral. |
| They were released from prison following an amnesty from the government in December last year, having served 18 months of their two-year sentences. | They were released from prison following an amnesty from the government in December last year, having served 18 months of their two-year sentences. |