2012-04-26 15:15:00
Moscow, April 26, Interfax - Prosecution agencies have confirmed legitimacy of the initiation of a disorderly conduct criminal case against the members of the punk band Pussy Riot, the Interior Ministry Department for Moscow told Interfax.
"In light of a statement by a lawyer for one of the members of the Pussy Riot band, who conducted a so-called punk prayer at Christ the Savior Cathedral, regarding the absence of signs of a crime in their actions as described in Article 213 of the Russian Criminal Code dealing with disorderly conduct, we are declaring officially that the fomenting of hatred or enmity are qualifying signs of Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code, which deals with the fomenting of hatred of enmity or humiliation of dignity. The members of the Pussy Riot group have not been charged with committing a crime described in Article 282," a department spokesperson said.
"Their actions have been qualified in line with Clause 9 of Part 2 of Article 213 dealing with disorderly conduct, that is, gross violation of public order. The prosecutor's office for Moscow's Central Administrative District has confirmed legitimacy and reasonability of the initiation of the criminal case," he said.