THE RUSSIAN government faced condemnation abroad and fury from its opponents at home yesterday after a court sentenced three members of punk band Pussy Riot to two years in jail.
Judge Marina Syrova convicted Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred in relation to their protest against Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a church last February.
The three women had offended Orthodox believers and committed “a grave violation of public order”, the judge said.
Hundreds of supporters outside the Moscow court cried out “shame” as the verdict became known. More than 60 were arrested in the following hours, Russian media reported.
The jailing of the Pussy Riot members was “Putin’s personal revenge”, opposition leader Alexey Navalny said outside the court. “This verdict was written by Vladimir Putin.” Pyotr Verzilov, Tolokonnikova’s husband, said: “What happened now is a clear sign that Russia is moving towards becoming more like China or North Korea.”
At least a dozen people from religious groups were also present, some carrying icons and crosses. “The Orthodox do not want any repeat of blasphemy,” read a woman’s poster. “Pussy Riot and their supporters should burn,” a man chanted.
In a stinging rebuke, German chancellor Angela Merkel said the sentence was “excessively harsh” and “not compatible with the European values of the rule of law and democracy”. “Today’s sentence in the Pussy Riot case looks disproportionate to the actions,” the US embassy in Moscow said. EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton described the outcome as “deeply troubling”.
The sharp international reaction followed worldwide protests in scores of cities.
Amnesty International said up to 60 of its members joined a protest at Dublin’s Spire at 11am yesterday as a mark of solidarity with the women as the verdict was handed down. Some protesters wore the band’s trademark coloured balaclavas.
Amnesty is calling on Irish people to join a further protest in support of the jailed women at the Russian embassy in Rathgar, Dublin, at 11am on Tuesday.