Religion

News

U.S. ambassador to Russia: Pussy Riot performers' treatment too hars

Moscow, July 27, Interfax - The U.S. ambassador to Russia has expressed concern over current criminal action against three women punk rock band performers who have been in detention since February for a scandalous anti-Putin performance inside Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.

The action against the Pussy Riot band musicians is most likely disproportionate to what they have done, Ambassador Michael McFaul told Russian online newspaper Gazeta.ru.

The three young women, who were wearing masks, appeared in the cathedral on February 21. They climbed a pulpit and staged a punk concert. The action triggered a huge outcry.

A criminal case on "hooliganism" charges was opened. The performers were detained.

Rights defenders hold that the maximum the three women deserve for their minor hooliganism is administrative punishment. Amnesty International declared the Pussy Riot detainees prisoners of conscience.

The three performers were remanded in custody until January 12, 2013, during a closed-door hearing at Moscow's Khamovnichesky Court.

The next hearing is due on July 30.

McFaul expressed anxiety in his gazeta.ru interview at allegations by Russian officials that the action against the Pussy Riot musicians is in line with international legal standards, and that so is some recent Russian legislation that has been attacked by rights activists.

It is a key international legal principle that punishment must be commensurable with the crime it has been meted out for, McFaul said. Moreover, it is untrue that the new Russian law to confer "foreign agent" status on foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations that engage in politics is effectively a replica of a U.S. law, he said.

McFaul said the Pussy Riot affair is giving rise to worldwide concerns.

He said he had heard Russian President Vladimir Putin say he wanted more democratic government. McFaul said he believed Putin was telling the truth.

The ambassador also said the U.S. is making efforts to ensure that all countries comply with democratic principles.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Ban on adoption of Russian children by gays is Russia's sovereign choice - Russian Orthodox Church 19 June 2013, 13:49
• G8 concerned by the increasingly sectarian nature of the Syrian conflict 19 June 2013, 10:29
• Baptist dissenters hold "illegal religious gatherings" in Uzbekistan – media 18 June 2013, 15:14
• Human rights center of World Russian People's Council asks to recognize Judas and Jesus cartoon as extremist 17 June 2013, 15:07
• Prokhorov opposes homosexuality propaganda ban 17 June 2013, 13:14
• Secret religious schools with kidnapped pupils discovered in Tajikistan 17 June 2013, 12:33
• Patriarch Kirill visits Estonia 15 June 2013, 12:53
• To invite priest to a wedding in "en vogue" in China 14 June 2013, 14:09
• Female painter decorates a church in Volgograd Region on her own 14 June 2013, 14:08
• One of United Russia leaders slams Western criticism of gay propaganda bill 14 June 2013, 10:07
• Man goes on the rampage in Moscow church 14 June 2013, 10:02
• Putin says important to preserve interethnic, interreligious peace in Russia 13 June 2013, 18:02
• Same-sex unions may become European value – Russian MP 13 June 2013, 17:31
• Decision to transfer Schneerson library to Tolerance Center is Solomon's decision - Russia's chief rabbi 13 June 2013, 17:10
• Putin hopes that transferring Schneerson library to Jewish Museum will resolve issue (updated) 13 June 2013, 16:22
• Patriarch Kirill to visit Estonia 13 June 2013, 13:29
• Russia will reject Germany's criticism of homosexuality propaganda bill - Duma deputy 13 June 2013, 10:04
• Russian LGBT leader to sue co-author of bill on fines for homosexual propaganda 13 June 2013, 10:02
• Putin says he, his wife were not married in church 11 June 2013, 20:04
• Bill on fines for homosexual propaganda among minors passes Duma 11 June 2013, 19:55
• Duma passes bill criminalizing insults to religious believer's feelings (updated) 11 June 2013, 17:45
• Head of Muslim Union of Kazakhstan released after seven days 11 June 2013, 17:42
• Most Russians want propaganda of homosexuality to be banned – poll 11 June 2013, 15:47
• OIC to continue working on legitimization of Palestinian state 11 June 2013, 15:43
• HRW urges Russia not to pass bill banning propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations 11 June 2013, 11:56
• Covert Islamic group leader convicted in Uzbekistan 10 June 2013, 16:19
• State Duma to ban adoptions of children by same-sex couples next week 10 June 2013, 14:26
• Anti-clerical rally held in Tomsk 10 June 2013, 10:04
• Monks shouldn't use Internet - Patriarch Kirill 10 June 2013, 10:03
• Patriarch Kirill: Russia-Greece relations rest on Orthodoxy 10 June 2013, 10:00

Other news