Pussy Riot found guilty of ‘hooliganism’ for stunt against Vladimir Putin
Police have rounded up pro-Pussy Riot protesters, including former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, and leftist opposition group leader Sergei Udaltsov.
Pussy Riot – Denis Bochkarev.
Hundreds of Pussy Riot supporters had filled a narrow street where the court is located, chanting ‘‘Russia without Putin!’’ amid heavy police presence.
A Russian judge found three members of the provocative punk band guilty of hooliganism on Friday, in one of the most closely watched cases in recent Russian history.
The defendants ignored requests to stop their brief unscheduled protest performance, the court heard.
They were accused of offending the churchgoers present, through their actions and their clothing, and showing a lack of respect for the rules of the Orthodox Church.
While their action outraged many of Russia’s faithful, their trial prompted international concern about freedom of speech in Russia.
Check out The Global Dispatch Facebook page here
Follow The Global Dispatch on Twitter here
