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 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Russian security forces 'attack Pussy Riot members with whips' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Russian security forces attacked members of the protest group Pussy Riot with horsewhips on Wednesday as they tried to perform in Sochi, the Olympic host city. | Russian security forces attacked members of the protest group Pussy Riot with horsewhips on Wednesday as they tried to perform in Sochi, the Olympic host city. |
Five female group members and one male member donned their signature ski masks and were pulling out a guitar and microphone as at least ten Cossacks and other security officials moved in. Cossaks are used by Russian police to patrol the streets. | Five female group members and one male member donned their signature ski masks and were pulling out a guitar and microphone as at least ten 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 and another whipped several group members. One allegedly threw a guitar into a nearby bin. | One Cossack appeared to use pepper spray and another whipped several group members. One allegedly threw a guitar into a nearby bin. |
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. | 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 did not make any arrests. | Police arrived and questioned witnesses, but did not make any arrests. |
A russian security officer attacks Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and a photographer Yesterday, Ms Alyokhina and Ms Tolokonnikova were released after being detained near the site of the Winter Olympics in downtown Sochi | A russian security officer attacks Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and a photographer Yesterday, Ms Alyokhina and Ms Tolokonnikova were released after being detained near the site of the Winter Olympics in downtown Sochi |
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. |