The members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot have been released from prison last month under a new amnesty law in Russia. They actually were supposed to be held until April 2014, but they were released in December, as Putin is trying very hard to clean up his act before the Winter Olympics in early February. Nadia Tolokonnikova and Maria Aloykhina are regarded as rock stars now, but they aren’t going to take advantage of it. They don’t want to go on tour, or record an album or even become a real punk band. They have never been a real punk band to begin with, they were not even real musicians, and Pussy Riot was part of a bigger art movement protesting against Putin. rather, they want to concentrate on the conditions in the Russian jails and prisoners’ rights in general, because they had a big bad taste of it. The two women spent almost two years in prison after their famous Punk Prayer in the middle of the Russian Orthodox cathedral and have been very outspoken about the terrible prison conditions. They are true heroes, incredibly brave and Amnesty International has confirmed that they will appear at Bringing Human Rights Home concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on February 5th, along with the Flaming Lips, Lauryn Hill, Tegan and Sara, Imagine Dragons, Cold War Kids, and many more. During the concert, Nadia and Maria will address concert attendees as their press release announces it:
‘We are happy to support Amnesty International’s work on behalf of human rights and political prisoners. We, more than anyone, understand how important Amnesty’s work is in connecting activists to prisoners… A month ago we were freed from Russian prison camps. We will never forget what it’s like to be in prison after a political conviction. We have vowed to continue helping those who remain behind bars and we hope to see you all at the Amnesty International concert on February 5th in Brooklyn!’
it’s gonna be their first appearance since they have been released from prison but this doesn’t please everybody. In particular, Archpriest Serge Lukianov of the Orthodox New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia Church in Bensonhurst seems really against it: ‘This is satanic’ he said, ‘It is appalling that people are making them into heroes. Anyone who desecrates a church, synagogue, or mosque is not a hero. They have their own opinion, but to desecrate the holiest of holy churches is completely out of line.’
Can we move on once for all over the fact that they performed in a church? How can people be so stupid? Why don’t people see through Putin’s game? The Orthodox church has become a big political force in Russia and condemning Pussy Riot’s performance was a manipulation to make him gain even more support from the religious crowd. Plus, their song wasn’t even blasphemous, they were asking the Virgin Mary to join them in the fight: ‘Virgin Mary, Mother of God /Become a feminist, we pray thee’…
These girls are the real deal, they could have exploited the Pussy Riot brand to death. Instead they will continue the fight against the system and will even have to deal with religious nonsense in the US.