To: Russian President Vladimir Putin
Today we are taking a stand as the international community against the outright attack on human rights and free speech underway in a Russian courtroom. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich – the three young female musicians who formed the punk rock band Pussy Riot – face up to 7 years in prison for a peaceful anti-Putin protest that the all-girl group staged in Moscow’s main Orthodox church last February. Though all three women apologized to Russian Orthodox believers who were offended, they staunchly defend their right to speak out against the Putin regime’s absolute intolerance of political dissent as well as its persecution of the Russian LGBT community.
Despite wide international concern for these bold young activist and national outrage over their 5-month long detention, the latest hearing clearly demonstrates that the court is determined to adopt a severe attitude to the performers. These women are clearly not imprisoned for a real crime, but for being critical of your government and expressing the feelings and ideas of many Russian citizens.
Moreover, it is a standard legal principle worldwide that punishment must be proportional to the offense. Criminal charges against Pussy Riot are grossly disproportionate to their peaceful protest. In truth, it is a thinly veiled attempt to crack down on political dissent.
We demand that you comply with internationally recognized democratic principles by releasing the detainees and immediately ceasing these unjust criminal proceedings!
http://www.causes.com/causes/787323-free-pussy-riot-now-pussy-riot/actions/1670648