Despite an outcry from the international musical community -- and in the face of accusations that the Russian Orthodox Church has its hands deeply in the pockets of President Vladimir Putin’s administration -- Judge Marina Syrova found members of the band Pussy Riot guilty of hooliganism for a protest in February.
According to the Associated Press, they’ll be serving two years in prison [1] for the protest, which included a pantomime of an anti-Putin song outside the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, two of whom are mothers, all face jail time for "hooliganism" after the protest. Hooliganism is a reference to behavior that is riotous, bullying or vandalizing. The extent of their supposed “hooliganism” can be seen here. In this clip, their music has not been dubbed over.
In our previous story about the arrests, we discussed the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, and in particular Patriarch Kirill I, head of the church, on Russian politics. Kirill went as far as calling Putin "a miracle from God." That influence is a frequent theme of Pussy Riot's music. In response to the arrests, Kirill tried to downplay the connection between the church and state in Russia in an interview with Russian media outlets, according to Reuters. [2] "The state, the authorities and the Church are autonomous from each other," Kirill said. "We are truly autonomous, we do not interfere in one another's dealings and we cherish this autonomy." [2]
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Pussy Riot Sentenced To 2 years In Prison For 'Hooliganism' http://t.co/iWSgZDYX
Pussy Riot women guilty of hooliganism, will serve two years http://t.co/onA0oRKV
Free Pussy Riot! http://t.co/cjYsDwnj
In defence of Pussy Riot & rebuke to religious apologists. http://t.co/C6MYEtdh
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Atheist Alliance was established in 1991 as a democratic network of US-based atheist organizations plus one non-US organization. Over time Atheist Alliance expanded to include more non-US members and changed its name to Atheist Alliance International (AAI) in 2001. In 2010 AAI had 31 US-based affiliates and 18 non-US based affiliates. At this time the board of AAI concluded that its goals could be achieved more effectively by separating into two organizations – one focused on US local and national issues and one focused on providing a supportive global network for atheist and freethought organizations around the world. In October 2010 the separation was approved in principle by AAI’s members and in June 2011 AAI effectively separated into Atheist Alliance International and Atheist Alliance of America.