On August 17, 2012, the verdict was read to the Pussy Riot group, participants in a high-profile trial that split Russian society. The lawyers of the convicted girls are given the opportunity to appeal the verdict within 10 days after its announcement. In addition, the Moscow City Court, to which the appeal will be submitted, may consider it for another month. All this time the girls will be in jail.
Members of the Pussy Riot group Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Ekaterina Samutsevich were charged with hooliganism and insulting the feelings of believers. The reason for this was the "punk prayer" held by the girls on March 3, 2012 at the Sole of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Initially, a noisy group of girls in short multi-colored dresses in balaclavas on their heads, chanting: "Mother of God, drive Putin away!", Were simply pushed out by the church servants. It would seem that this would be the end of the case, but after a while, according to the statements of the victim witnesses, a trial was scheduled, the girls were found and taken into custody.
From the very beginning, inadequately strict detention measures were applied to the suspected persons involved in the case. Since, according to the Constitution of the country, the church in Russia is separated from the state, it was not very clear why hooligan actions were reclassified as a criminal offense. Even those citizens, believers and atheists, who initially aroused hostility and rejection by the actions of the group, were subsequently concerned that their trial would turn into a real trial, where the law has no place.
It is difficult to find a rational explanation for the ongoing proceedings. The video broadcast of the trial in the Pussy Riot case also added reasons for indignation. All interested viewers were able to make sure that the qualifications of judges and prosecutors are of the lowest level. Only one of the three examinations carried out admitted, with references to ancient religious codes, that signs of religious enmity were found in the "punk prayer". Some professional psychologists, in turn, considered that such an examination discredited their profession, but this opinion was not heard by the court.
The low quality of the judicial investigation, which did not take into account most of the evidence and arguments of the defense, made the sentence itself expected - two years in a general regime colony for each member of the group. The lawyers called the verdict not a legal document, but a work of art, far from the letter of the law. Therefore, the public continues to worry and wait to see how the appeal will end - a cassation appeal has been filed.
