Change.org says TY, ‘band members of Pussy Riot are free’

We want to thank all 23000 signers who signed our petition to grant honorary Parisian citizenship to the Russian band: Pussy Riot – Nadejda Tolokonnikova, Ekaterina Samoutsevitch, and Maria Alekhina.

Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk-rock collective based in Moscow.

Founded in August 2011, it has a variable membership of approximately 11 women ranging in age from about 20 to 33, who wear brightly colored balaclavas and use only nicknames during interviews.

They stage unauthorized provocative guerrilla performances in unusual public locations, which are edited into music videos and posted on the Internet. Their lyrical themes include feminism, LGBT rights, opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom they regard as a dictator, and links between the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church and Putin.

On February 21, 2012, five members of the group staged a performance on the sole as of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

Their actions were stopped by church security officials. By evening, they had turned it into a music video entitled “Punk Prayer – Mother of God, Chase Putin Away!”.

The women said their protest was directed at the Orthodox Church leader’s support for Putin during his election campaign.

On March 3, two of the group members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, were arrested and charged with hooliganism. A third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was arrested on March 16. Denied bail, they were held in custody until their trial began in late July. On August 17, 2012, the three members were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, and each was sentenced to two years imprisonment. Two other members of the group, who escaped arrest after February’s protest, reportedly left Russia fearing prosecution. On October 10, following an appeal, Samutsevich was freed on probation, her sentence suspended. The sentences of the other two women were upheld.

In late October 2012, Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova were separated and sent to prison camps.

The trial and sentence attracted considerable criticism, particularly in the West. The case was adopted by human rights groups including Amnesty International, which designated the women prisoners of conscience, and by a wide range of musicians including Madonna, Sting, and Yoko Ono. Public opinion in Russia was generally less sympathetic towards the women. Putin stated that the band had “undermined the moral foundations” of the nation and “got what they asked for”.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he did not think the three members of Pussy Riot should have been sent to jail, but stressed that the release of the remaining two imprisoned members was a matter for the courts.

The proposal was debated at a meeting of the Paris City Council last week. After the debate, Council voted unanimously to renew the City’s support for Pussy Riot, demand their immediate release, and organize a concert in support of the band at a symbolic location in Paris.

While we were hoping for more, this gesture of support is a victory that sends a strong signal. As was said during the vote, we will continue to work tirelessly to mobilize the City of Paris until all the members of Pussy Riot are free.

Thank you,

Denis Baupin and the Paris Green Party City Councillors