USA: Although a Russian court rejects Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina's bid for release, balaclava clad supporters still chant for her freedom

Record ID: 213849

  • Title: USA: Although a Russian court rejects Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina's bid for release, balaclava clad supporters still chant for her freedom
  • Date: 17th January 2013
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 16, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTERS WALKING IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANJI WILLIAMS, PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTER, SAYING: "I went to Russia recently and was meeting with the Pussy Riot and Free Pussy Riot people and we took 27 pairs of Levis, which we spray painted 'I am Pussy Riot' in solidarity with them. They're in Moscow. And they gave me this, which was the balaclava she was wearing when she was arrested for her church performance. Today there are many, many international demonstrations in solidarity with her and we're doing the one in Los Angeles." VARIOUS OF PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTERS CLOSE UP OF POSTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TUCKER KAUFMAN, PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTER, SAYING: "We're here to protest because Russia doesn't have freedom of speech and it's ridiculous to put someone in jail for speaking their mind." VARIOUS OF PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTERS WALKING WIDE OF CARS HONKING IN SOLIDARITY WITH PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTERS TIMUR KHOREV FILMING PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) TIMUR KHOREV, JOURNALIST AND RUSSIAN PROTEST ACTIVIST, SAYING: "I think it's really, really terrible what's happening to Alyokhina. She can't see her son for many, many months. She's in prison and is a single mother of a small son. Being a protest activist and street reporter I know a lot about this trial and what's happening is really, really terrible." VARIOUS OF PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTERS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANGELA TORRES, PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTER, SAYING: "We were all really heartbroken because of that. We think that she should at least spend a little bit of time with her son until he's 14. I think that was a little unfair that they didn't allow that." CLOSE UP OF SHIRT READING "FREE PUSSY RIOT" VARIOUS OF PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTERS CHEERING CAR HONKING PUSSY RIOT SUPPORTERS CHANTING "FREE PUSSY RIOT"
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Arts,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAASO1HVSFN0N0304K8U1VCXOT9
  • Story Text: Donning balaclavas and chanting "Free Pussy Riot," protesters rallied for Pussy Riot punk band member Maria Alyokhina's freedom in Los Angeles, one of the many rallies taking place around the world on Wednesday (January 16).
    "I went to Russia recently and was meeting with the Pussy Riot and Free Pussy Riot people and we took 27 pairs of Levis, which we spray painted 'I am Pussy Riot' in solidarity with them," said Pussy Riot supporter Anji Williams. "They're in Moscow. And they gave me this, which was the balaclava she was wearing when she was arrested for her church performance. Today there are many, many international demonstrations in solidarity with her and we're doing the one in Los Angeles."
    The singer lost an appeal to a Russian court on Wednesday (January 16) to be freed from prison and defer her sentence to care for her five-year-old son. The 24-year-old is serving a two-year sentence for a protest against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral.
    "I think it's really, really terrible what's happening to Alyokhina," said Russian-born journalist and activist Timur Khorev. "She can't see her son for many, many months. She's in prison and is a single mother of a small son. Being a protest activist and street reporter I know a lot about this trial and what's happening is really, really terrible."
    She had asked the court to free her from the jail in the Ural Mountains to serve her sentence when her son was older.
    Alyokhina and two band mates were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for their "punk prayer," which was criticized by Putin and cast by the Russian Orthodox Church as part of a concerted attack on the country's main faith.
    The refusal to let Alyokhina be with her child is likely to stoke further ire from liberals incensed by a law he signed in December barring Americans from adopting Russian children, which critics say has made vulnerable orphans pawns to politics.
    The United States and Europe have called the two-year Pussy Riot sentences excessive.
    "We're here to protest because Russia doesn't have freedom of speech and it's ridiculous to put someone in jail for speaking their mind," said Pussy Riot supporter Tucker Kaufman.
    Putin's opponents say they are part of a series of measures to punish dissent since he returned to the presidency last may after four years as prime minister.
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