Russian Band Pussy Riot Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

High Profile 'Hooliganism' Trial Related to Anti-Putin Performance Ends With Harsh Sentence

Protests were reported today in front of the courthouse as a Russian judge handed down a two year prison sentence to the three members of all-female punk band Pussy Riot on charges of “hooliganism” related to a performance at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

The women had performed a song at the cathedral urging the Virgin Mary to become a feminist and oust President Vladimir Putin. They were accused of blasphemy and “doing the work of Satan” by Russia’s religious leader Kirill I.

Though in theory the charges were based entirely on performing a religiously offensive song at the cathedral and not on its political content, most agree that the prosecution’s aggressiveness and attempts to seek harsh sentences are motivated by making an example of Putin’s critics.

The case has sparked enormous debate within Russia about the extent of legal support for the church, and vice versa. Polls after the case showed that 58 percent of Russians felt the sentence was too harsh.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.