Russian court refuses bail for anti-Putin punks

Rachel Ogbu
WVoN  co-editor 

Amnesty International has called for the release of three members of a women’s punk band, Pussy Riot, who were arrested earlier this year for performing an anti-Putin song in a Moscow cathedral.

The women, who have been in detention for weeks (see WVoN story), were refused bail by a Russian court, Reuters reports. It extended their detention till 24 June.

In a recent update, ABC news released a video of Moscow police arresting more than 20 people this week, protesting against the arrests of the band members.

The women allege that the arrests are politically motivated. One of them, Yekaterina Samutsevich, said:

“This is a political case. It is clear that Russia has now decided to crack down on all opposition activists”.

The women, who deny the allegations, performed their “Punk Prayer” inside Christ The Saviour Cathedral on 21 February, and later released a video of the event, according to the BBC.

The song attacks Vladimir Putin, who was re-elected last month for a third term as Russian president among much controversy.

Lawyers for the three said they would appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.