Pussy Riot is a Russian, anti-Putin, riot grrrl art collective. The group formed in September 2011, directly after Vladimir Putin announced his run for president (again). The 10 performers are known for dressing up in balaclavas (knitted ski masks with eye and mouth holes cut out) and staging punk-infused protest art shows in Moscow's public spaces.
On February 21, five members of Pussy Riot performed a "punk prayer" at the altar of Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. The original cathedral was destroyed by Stalin in 1931 and rebuilt as a godless celebration of the state (later becoming the world's largest swimming pool), but it returned to its function as an Orthodox church in 1994. Pussy Riot stood under the cathedral's elaborate frescoes, punched at the air and cursed, pleading with the Virgin Mary to kick Putin out of power. Watch the video here.
What happened after that?
Two weeks after being led out by cathedral security, three members of Pussy Riot were arrested with a warrant for "hooliganism," a charge for which they could serve up to seven years. They were denied bail, and their trial was repeatedly postponed. Two of the women are mothers of young children, and all three have remained imprisoned for nearly five months.
On Monday, the trial finally began. The defense had little time to pore over 2,800 pages of an indictment, and tweets from Violetta Volkova, one of the defense lawyers, tell of the women being given five consecutive days, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., to read their charges in a cage-like cell at court. Today, the defense claimed that after 11 hours in court yesterday deprived of food or sleep, the women were too exhausted to proceed. According to the Moscow Times, Judge Marina Syrova eventually promised to let the defendants take a break.
Sounds like people are angry. Who?
Well, the Russian Orthodox Church, for starters. Patriarch Kirill, the Russian Orthodox religious leader, has said that the church is "under attack by persecutors," and spokesman Vsevolod Chaplin announced that Pussy Riot's sin "will be punished in this life and the next." Chaplin is also asking the women to repent. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has shrugged off the notion that the treatment of Pussy Riot has been unnecessarily harsh. "In some countries the responsibility for such actions would have been much more strict," Medvedev told the UK's Times last week.
The case has folks peeved all over the globe: A symbol of artistic struggle against political repression, the band's treatment has sparked grassroots protests from Helsinki to Mexico City. (Check out the slideshow.) FreePussyRiot.org, the support organization started soon after the arrest, has spread to at least six countries, and helps coordinate actions and benefit shows. As the result of a mysterious DDoS attack last month, FreePussyRiot.org has set up proxy websites to keep the updates flowing. Musicians, artists, anarchists, feminists, and advocates of free expression continue to take up the balaclava in protest.
Is that why Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers wore a Pussy Riot T-shirt at the band's show in Moscow?*
Yes. Peter Gabriel has also written a letter of support, and British actor, author, director, and comedian Stephen Fry has taken up the fight through his Twitter account. According to Pussy Riot lawyer Mark Feygin, the Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis has also spoken to Madonna and texted Bono about the cause.
Okay…but what if celebrities texting other celebrities doesn't work?
Those protests mentioned above aren't going away any time soon, and high-profile pressure outside the country and within is mounting. Last week, Amnesty International hosted a protest outside the Russian embassy in Washington, DC, and in Moscow, one anti-Putin/pro-Pussy Riot rally's numbers swelled to 1,500. Supporters are planning another protest during the trial, tentatively set for August 11 and 12. Meanwhile, artists like Stuart Semple and musicians like Finnish jazz pianist Iiro Rantala have announced they will not show their work or perform in Moscow on Pussy Riot's behalf, and another supporter even held a hunger strike for 25 days.
Where's Putin in all of this?
Defense lawyer Mark Feygin submitted to the court a list of 34 witnesses he'd have liked to call on, including Kirill and Putin. The court rejected it. But while Putin may be lying low, there's no doubt that the Kremlin's crackdown on Pussy Riot has hit a nerve with both the Russian public and abroad. Tens of thousands of Russians, including celebrities and the pious, have signed a petition asking the government to release the women. Not exactly a good look for the president.
So, what's going to happen to Pussy Riot?
The women are pleading not guilty, and the trial will last until mid-August, according to Rob Lieber, a representative from FreePussyRiot.org. In the meantime, the outcome remains unclear. (There's also this unhelpful poll, which suggests US asylum and an appearance on Oprah as potential fates for the prisoners.)
How can I follow the trial?
Freepussyriot.org is the go-to for most things Pussy Riot-related. However, you can also follow Pussy Riot's defense lawyers individually on Twitter (and with the help of online translation tools) here: @mark_feygin, @Moscow_advokat, and @volkova_v.
Original Article
Source: mother jones
Author: Sydney Brownstone
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