Russian court denies Pussy Riot member's appeal
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 16 January 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian court denies Pussy Riot member's appeal, 16 January 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5122356c23.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Last updated (GMT/UTC): 16.01.2013 17:08
By RFE/RL
A court in the Russian city of Berezniki has turned down an appeal by jailed Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina.
She asked the court to let her serve the rest of her prison sentence after her 5-year-old son turns 14, saying their separation was harming his development.
But the judge rejected her appeal, saying the court that sentenced her last year had already taken into account her family situation.
Amnesty International strongly criticized the ruling.
"We are clearly deeply disappointed with the decision because basically it's a further travesty of justice in this case," Natalia Prilutskaya, a campaigner for Amnesty International's Russia Team, told RFE/RL from London.
"We think that the three girls shouldn't have been arrested, first of all, and they shouldn't have been prosecuted in a criminal procedure."
Alyokhina is one of three Pussy Riot members sentenced for an unauthorized protest in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow in February 2012.
The group staged a performance protesting the rule of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The three were convicted of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred."
Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are now serving two-year prison sentences.
A third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, received a suspended sentence.
The sentences were widely criticized by the United States, the European Union, and many top entertainers.
'Prisoners Of Conscience'
Amnesty says that the trial of the Pussy Riot members was politically motivated.
"I would like to remind you that Amnesty International continues to consider Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova to be prisoners of conscience," Prilutskaya said.
In a statement on January 16, Amnesty said Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova should be released, "immediately and unconditionally," while the suspended sentence of Samutsevich should be overturned.
Alyokhina told the court that while she wanted her sentence deferred, she still refused to plead guilty and that she had nothing to repent for.
With reporting by ITAR-TASS, Interfax, and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
