CHERNOV’S CHOICE

By Sergey Chernov

The St. Petersburg Times

Published: August 15, 2012 (Issue # 1722)

An international solidarity event to show support for Pussy Riot — the three women that have been imprisoned for performing an anti-Putin “punk prayer” — will be held around the world on Friday, Aug. 17.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova’s lawyer, Mark Feigin, said that the event will start at 2 p.m., one hour before the judge is scheduled to begin reading the verdict in Moscow. Due to time differences, people in other countries will join the event later, once the verdict is already known.

The event will be held in Paris, Prague, London, New York, Munich, Vilnius and other cities, Feigin said. Participants will stand and hold “Free Pussy Riot” posters.

The trial — which has been viewed by many internationally with disbelief and disgust — showed disrespect of the law on the part of the judge and prosecution and has been compared to a mix of Stalin-era show trials and medieval witch trials by some.

Powerful concluding statements made by Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich last week have already made history as a verdict of Putin’s regime.

The women have been supported by dozens of international musicians, authors and filmmakers, from Peter Gabriel and Sting to Bjork and Madonna.

According to Feigin, Moscow supporters will gather at the Khamovnichesky District Court.

“Because of the authoritarian rule in Russia, we urge people to come without posters and wait for the court’s ruling,” Feigin said.

In St. Petersburg, Pussy Riot supporters will start gathering at 2 p.m. on Arts Square.

“It’s an act of solidarity, that’s why it’s important it be held on one and the same day with all of the people that sympathize with these young women and who simply support democracy and freedom in Russia,” Feigin said.

“Innocent people may be sentenced to a lengthy term in a prison colony as the result of this illegal trial.”