Support The Moscow Times!

Moscow City Court to Hear Pussy Riot Appeal

Moscow's highest court is examining an appeal by three members of the punk band Pussy Riot of their conviction for a performance protesting President Vladimir Putin.

Pavel Chikov, head of the legal aid group Agora, which represents the band, said Wednesday that Moscow City Court's presidium had requested files of the guilty verdict on charges of hooliganism that was handed down in August as the result of Pussy Riot's performance in Moscow's main cathedral.

Human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin filed a supporting affidavit asking for the conviction to be overturned. Lukin's affidavits have special legal status and have frequently helped free defendants in a country where 99 percent of trials end in convictions.

Yekaterina Samutsevich, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were given two-year sentences. Samutsevich was later released on appeal, but her conviction was not overturned.

(AP)

Related articles:

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more