Samutsevich Walks Free
The Guardian has video and translations of portions of the statements read out by Pussy Riot members Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova during their appeal hearing. The third imprisoned member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released and given a suspended sentence, whilst the other two will remain in prison to finish serving their two-year terms. All three apologised for offending religious Russians, and reiterated that the aim of their protest was to object to Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian rule, and the merging of state and religious power.
Tolokonnikova, over loud objections from the judge, warned that Putin was leading the country to civil war.
“I want to warn that everything that is happening in Putin’s third term is leading to the end of stability,” she said. “In two years there will be civil war, because Putin is doing everything to ensure that.” The judge did not let her finish.