in the Orthodox Church--as they protested Putin? I'm aware that this has become a political prosecution, but what were the original "offenses"?

It reminds me a lot of some of ACT-UP's protests in the 80's and 90's. Their charge and sentencing was "hooliganism" for "abusing God." There was an awful lot of misogynist and anti-feminism behind it, too.

Some Russian activists have even said some of the prisoners aren't even members of the protest punk -- they just needed to arrest people. I have been following it, and it is very "show trial."

My mother disagrees with their methods, but agrees with their message, and just donated to Amnesty International because of this. I was just talking to her on the phone, so thought I'd mention what she thinks.

Do you know exactly what their protest actions were suppose to be that supposedly warranted the charges? Is protesting hooliganism by itself? And was abusing God, just because they did it in a church? Did they damage stuff? Did they act in a non church like way?

I really don't know.

If ya got time, I'd appreciate more details.

Prelude to a stiff sentence: The Judge is SLAMMING the members of Pussy Riot:

Last edited Fri Aug 17, 2012, 09:44 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Posting of the video was proof of the band trying to gain publicity by their hooligan actions, the judge has said adding,"They have deliberately placed themselves against Orthodox believers."

She's also said that the "jerking of limbs" during the performance was further proof of hatred towards Christians.
8m ago

"The defendants violated the common rules of behaviour in the cathedral," the judge has said.
12m ago

Judge: Lamps, loud speakers, guitars and balaclavas were all prepared in advance by the band.
13m ago

"They were openly displaying disrespect" not just for those in the cathedral but for all Orthodox Christians the judge has said.

Updated 12m ago
15m ago

The action has "degraded the moral feeling" of the victims the judge has said.


Updated 2m ago
15m ago

The judge has called the crime a conspiracy driven by hatred of religion and the court does "not trust" the testimony of the band members because it is an attempt to "evade justice" and proven to be false.
19m ago

"The court does find a religious hatred motive" the judge has said and has given an interesting reason for this based partly around the argument of Pussy Riot being Feminists.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/aug/17/pussy-riot-trial-verdict-live?newsfeed=true

From wikipedia:

Church protest

On 21 February 2012, as a part of a protest movement against the re-election of Vladimir Putin, four women from the group came to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, crossed themselves, bowed to the altar and began to perform a song. After less than one minute they were escorted outside the building by guards.[10] The film of the performance was later used to create a video clip for the song.

In the song, the group asked the “Theotokos” (Mother of God, i.e. the Virgin Mary) (rus. Богородица Bogoroditsa) to "drive Putin away". The song also describes the Russian Patriarch, Kirill I of Moscow, as someone who believes in Putin rather than in God.[11] Kirill showed open support for Putin as a candidate before the presidential election.[12]

wow. That's all I can say. Wow. Amnesty is working to help them?