The Obama administration is treading carefully around the Soviet-style verdict against a Russian punk band who spoke out against President Vladimir Putin.
Three women in the band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison for playing an anti-Putin song, urging the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of the former KGB spy, in a Russian Orthodox cathedral to protest cronyism between Putin and church leaders. Chess champion and Kremlin opponent Garry Kasparov was among those arrested outside of the Moscow courtroom where the “hooliganism” sentences were handed down.
“The United States is disappointed by the verdict, including the disproportionate sentences that were granted,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said today. “While we understand the group’s behavior was offensive to some, we have serious concerns about the way that these young women have been treated by the Russian judicial system.”
“The United States is concerned about both the verdict and the disproportionate sentences handed down by a Moscow court in the case against the members of the band Pussy Riot and the negative impact on freedom of expression in Russia,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. “We urge Russian authorities to review this case and ensure that the right to freedom of expression is upheld.”
The Russian Orthodox Church was among those asking for clemency for the young women. Pussy Riot’s protest song included criticism of the church’s “praise of rotten dictators,” and urges the patriarchs that instead of believing in Putin they’d “better believe in God instead.”
“Mary, Mother of God, is with us in protest!” the song goes. “Virgin Mary, Mother of God, put Putin away, put Putin away, put Putin away.”
“Shame on Putin regime for sentencing female punk band to 2 yrs in jail for speaking out against oppression,” Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) tweeted.
To mark the sentences of the three members, with several still on the outside, the punk band dropped a new single: “Putin Lights Up the Fires.”
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