Putin Weighs in on Pussy Riot Case

August 03, 2012 from Al Jazeera English

As the hooliganism trial of the all-female Russian group Pussy Riot continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he thinks the punk rockers should not be treated too harshly. The three women of Pussy Riot deny the charges connected to their anti-Putin stunt in Moscow's main cathedral. Al Jazeera's Rory Challands reports.

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Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk-rock collective that stages politically provocative impromptu performances in Moscow, on subjects such as the status of women in Russia, and most recently against the election campaign of Prime Minister Putin for president of Russia. Explore this topic

Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician who has been the President of Russia since 7 May 2012. Putin previously served as President from 2000 to 2008, and as Prime Minister of Russia from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012. Putin was also previously the Chai... Explore this topic

President of Russia

The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state, Supreme Commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Russian Federation. However, they are not the head of the executive branch. The Government of Russia is the highest organ of executive power. Th... Explore this topic

Russia

Russia or, also officially known as the Russian Federation, is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects. From northwest to southeast, Russia shares land borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania an... Explore this topic

Moscow

Moscow is the capital city and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural and scientific center in Russia and in Europe. According to Forbes 2011, Moscow has the largest community of billionaires in the world. Moscow is the n... Explore this topic

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few blocks southwest of the Kremlin. With an overall height of 105 metres, it is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world. Explore this topic

Protest song

A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs. It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre. Among social movements that have an associated body of songs are the abolition movement, w... Explore this topic

2011-2012 Russian protests

The 2011–13 Russian protests first began as a response to the 2011 Russian legislative election process, which many Russian and foreign journalists, political activists and members of the public considered to be flawed, and the protests continued despite the fact that the Cent... Explore this topic

Freedom of speech

Vārda brīvība ir vienas no pamattiesībām, ko paredz Vispārējā cilvēktiesību deklarācija. Plašākā nozīmē ar to saprot tiesības brīvi un publiski jebkādā veidā paust viedokli vai ierosināt darbību, šo tiesību izmantošanas procesā tiekot aizsargātam no jebkādiem centieniem šī vie... Explore this topic

Trial

In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribunal, which may occur before a judge, jury, or other designated tr... Explore this topic

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Pussy Riot

Vladimir Putin

President of Russia

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