Free Pussy Riot!

It heartened me to discover that Ekaterina Samutsevich of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot was released from custody on 10 October 2012.  I am however deeply concerned that her release was conditional and that the other two members, Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, are still detained.

I appreciate that many Russians were offended when Pussy Riot performed a song of protest in a cathedral on 21 February 2012.  The band members were however only demonstrating their internationally recognised human right to peaceful protest; they did not incite violence.

(From left) Russian feminist punk-rock band Pussy Riot Yekaterina Samutsevic, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova

I call on Mr Alexander Yakovenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and in charge of multilateral diplomacy, to release Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova as I believe them to be prisoners of conscience.  They should not have been prosecuted in the first place as their actions were not “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” but a peaceful protest.  They need to be released unconditionally as their imprisonment is a violation of their right to non-violently express their beliefs.  Further to this I hope they review Ekaterina Samutsevich’s release, giving her unconditional freedom.

In November there were reports that Maria Alekhina requested to be transferred to a solitary, or "safe" cell, due to mounting tensions with other inmates.  This sparks alarm bells in my head and begs the question is she safe?  She needs to be free from the fear of ill-treatment and intimidation, from other prisoners or staff.  Someone needs to step in to ensure her, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova's, welfare.  Further to this, the threat that the may be moved to distant penal colonies needs to be eradicated, as they have young children.

The bigger issue that needs addressing is that the Russian Federation needs to not only respect but recognise the right to freedom of expression.  People exercising this right should be allowed to do so without fear of judicial punishment and not treated like hooligans.  Everyone should be allowed to have their voice whether or not we agree with what is being said.  

The treatment of Pussy Riot has shocked me and it is a symbol of a judgement system to afraid to reinforce human rights.