Now that everyone from Hollywood stars to Russian policians are talking about the Friday's sentencing of the three woman from the Russian punk band, Pussy Riots for hooliganism. You may ask what exactly hooliganism is, does it have anything to do with football?
The term Hooliganism is defined in the Russian criminal code as Average Gravity Crime. According to the nation's criminal code, article 213, defines hooliganism as "The flagrant violation of public order expressed by a clear disrespect for society," as reported by the Slatest magazine. Basically what it means is any provocation to disrupt the peace of society. However, the vague definition and vast purview of the term often makes it an impediment to civilian freedoms, such as freedom of speech.
As is seen in the case of the Pussy Riots, who staged a performance at a Cathedral where they criticized not just president Vladimir Putin, but also the church head, Patriarch Kiriller I, the three ladies were convicted in the second category of hooliganism, which states provocation or disruption for reasons of politics, ideology, racism, nationalism, religious hatred, or enmity with respect to any social group.
Friday, Judge Marina Syrova said that the band members had "crudely undermined social order," and thus guilty of hooliganism.
On February 21, Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, did show any expression of remorse or fear, but instead bore an expression that almost seem to exude pride in their actions as they stood there accepting their two year sentence with crossed arms and a hint of a smile on their faces.
Upon receiving the sentence, Pussy Riot member, Tolokonnikova, told the New York Times:
"To my deepest regret, this mock trial is close to the standards of the Stalinist troikas...Who is to blame for the performance at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and for our being put on trial after the concert? The authoritarian political system is to blame. What Pussy Riot does is oppositional art or politics...In any event; it is a form of civil action in circumstances where basic human rights, civil and political freedoms are suppressed."
The announcement lead to a number of protestors gathered outside of the hearing chanting "Free Pussy Riot!," "down with the police," not just in Russia but across Europe. In Russia, many opposition leaders joined the chorus of protestors, a number of whom remain detained. The other members of the band said that they will continue to protest and demonstrate for the three women.
While the maximum sentence they could have received was three years, many were hopeful that the members would be given a minimum sentence, especially since Putin himself declared that he wished the judge would not punish them "too severely," as reported by New York Times. The band had gained a lot of support over the incident not just within Russia, but also in the international community. Madonna who toured in Moscow sported a black bra bearing the name "Pussy Riot," others from the international community have also shown support to the band members. With all the attention directed towards the band, the group's defense team was even hopeful for a possible acquittal. But the Judge shocked everyone by handing down a term much longer than was anticipated.
Watch the Video of the sentencing here.
