Pussy Riot bandmedlemmer idømt to års fængsel
PEN’s Writers in Prison Comittee (WiPC) er chokeret over dommen på to års fængsel til de tre kvinder, fra punkbandet Pussy Riot: Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samusevich.
De tre kvinder har siddet varetægtsfængslet siden begyndelsen af marts måned og har ventet på retssagen, der først fandt sted i slutningen af juli.
Den 17. august faldt dommen på to års ophold i en lukket russisk arbejdslejr.
Under selve retssagen sad kvinderne i et politiovervåget skudsikkert glasbur. Anklageren og dennes vidner påstod, at Pussy Riots protest “vidnede om et dybt had til alle ortodokse kristne” og at deres protestsang “intet havde at gøre med Putins regime”, som de tre kvinder påstår.
PEN International var til stede under retssagen, hvor forsvaret igen og igen blev nægtet at gøre indsigelser, at indkalde vidner eller i det hele taget at få lov til at tale kvindernes sag.
Denne repressive fremgangsmåde i russisk retspraksis er yderst bekymrende, og vidner om en støt stigende stramning af ytringsfriheden i dagens Rusland.
Dommen faldt knap seks måneder efter de tre bandmedlemmers fængsling og sigtelsen for “hooliganisme motiveret af religiøst had” – en forbrydelse, der kan udløse en straf på op til syv års fængsel.
Baggrund:
D. 21. februar gik de tre kvinder fra Pussy Riot ind i Christ the Saviour Cathedral i Moskva iført farvede masker og optrådte med en sang, der understregede den tætte forbindelse mellem Putin og den ortodokse kirke.
En dokumenterende videooptagelse af protesten viser, at der hverken skete vold på tilstedeværende personer eller inventar i kirken. PEN International mener, at sangens tekst og selve fremførslen lå for tæt på den form, der almindeligvis bruges i tilbedelsen af Jomfru Maria – og at det er derfor Pussy Riot bliver straffet så alvorligt.
Den hårde fængselsdom af de tre kvinder har skabt oprør verden over i både den trykte presse og (måske især) i alle netbaserede sociale medier, og sætter fokus på Ruslands stigende problemer med ytringsfriheden.
For more information on the case see our RAN alert’s:
PEN International published a translation of their “punk prayer” Punk Moleben and its context:
http://www.pen-international.org/newsitems/russia-pussy-riot-punk-moleben-put-putin-away/
PEN Russia’s open letter to Vladimir Putin in support of Pussy Riot members:
http://www.pen-international.org/newsitems/pen-russia-protests-pussy-riot-detentions/
We also recommend articles and tweets by Guardian Moscow correspondent Miriam Elder who was present at the trial @MiriamElder
Appeals
Please send letters
Expressing shock at the two year sentences served against Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samusevich;
Adding that long term imprisonment for an action that did not cause physical damage to any person, building or property would in other circumstances have resulted in a lesser punishment, caution or financial penalty ;
Pointing out that the harsh sentence is clearly in retaliation for the lyrics of the song performed by Pussy Riot members, containing language that is strongly critical of the Church and of President Putin in particular, and is this in breach of international conventions, specifically Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which Russia is a signatory;
Therefore calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the three women.
Address
You can send messages to President Putin on the Kremlin website
http://eng.letters.kremlin.ru/
Or by mail:
President Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
23, Ilyinka Street, Moscow, 103132
Russia
You may find that the Russian ambassador in your own country is more likely to respond to your appeals, so we recommend that you either write to him or her directly or send a copy of your appeal. You can find the Russian embassy in your country here.
Messages of solidarity to the prisoners can be sent via the FreePussyRiot website: www.freepussyriot.org
For further information please contact Sara Whyatt at PEN International Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International, Brownlow House, 50-51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER Tel: +44 (02) 20 7405 0338 Fax: +44 (0) 20 74050339 Email: sara.whyatt@pen-international.org
To unsubscribe from this mailing list please reply with “Unsubscribe” in the subject title
Sara Whyatt | Deputy Director | Sous-Directeur | Sub-Directora | PEN International
t. +44 (0)20 7405 0338 | m. +44 (0)7824640527 | e. Twitter | Facebook | www.pen-international.org
Celebrating 90 years of promoting literature and defending freedom of expression
International PEN is trading as PEN International. International PEN is a company registered in England and Wales with registration number 05683997. International PEN is a registered charity in England and Wales with registration number 1117088. International PEN’s registered office is Brownlow House, 50-51 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6ER, UK.
Mette Thelin, informationsmedarbejder
Dansk PEN
Dronningensgade 14
1420 København K
Telefon +45 32 95 44 17
Mobil +45 40 45 44 19