Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
30th July 2012, 11:43
Hooliganism motivated by religious hatred?? Blasphemy? It's the 21st century, stop panicking whenever anyone says anything mean about your mighty leader and eternal saviour...and Jesus too.
Three members of Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot have gone on trial, in a case that has divided Russia and inflamed the religious establishment.
They were taken into custody in February after singing a song protesting against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral.
The song outraged the Russian Orthodox Church. It accused them of blasphemy.
Supporters say the case reflects the state's growing intolerance of government opponents.
At the start of the trial, the three women, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were led into court in handcuffs, and locked into a cage of bullet-proof glass.
In court, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova said they would not plead guilty, but that did not mean they were not prepared to apologise for the pain their performance in the cathedral had caused.
They each stood up and answered a series of questions from the judge in turn, which included their educational level, citizenship and the birth dates of their children.
The women are facing the charge of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility and could face up to seven years in prison.
(more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19040414)
Three members of Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot have gone on trial, in a case that has divided Russia and inflamed the religious establishment.
They were taken into custody in February after singing a song protesting against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral.
The song outraged the Russian Orthodox Church. It accused them of blasphemy.
Supporters say the case reflects the state's growing intolerance of government opponents.
At the start of the trial, the three women, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were led into court in handcuffs, and locked into a cage of bullet-proof glass.
In court, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova said they would not plead guilty, but that did not mean they were not prepared to apologise for the pain their performance in the cathedral had caused.
They each stood up and answered a series of questions from the judge in turn, which included their educational level, citizenship and the birth dates of their children.
The women are facing the charge of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility and could face up to seven years in prison.
(more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19040414)