The Continuing Case of Pussy Riot

The Russian punk band's performance of "Punk Prayer" or "Mother of God send Putin Away" in the Christ the Savior Cathedral has continued to be a hot topic in freedom of speech and political oppression in Russia. The video became notorious for mashing up several flashmob performances of the song, as well as Russian courts demanding its removal from YouTube.
The three convicted and sentenced members.

Some of the band members of Pussy Riot have been handed lengthy sentences for the charge of hooliganism with anti-religious motivations, a charge that continues to be contested by a multitude of human rights organizations, but now with an additional ally: the top of human rights ombudsman of Russia, Vladimir Lukin, who states that the verdicts should be thrown out. 

Lukin, meeting with President Putin on an unrelated matter.


Lukin states that the members of the punk group violated only “the internal rules of conduct inside the cathedral” — something that cannot be regarded as a gross disturbance of public order. Furthermore, he states that the prosecution failed to adequately demonstrate that Pussy Riot's actions were motivated by religious hatred, resulting in a wrongful conviction.

Celebrities have also come out in support of Pussy Riot, although these shows of support range from wishes for a lesser punishment to a mocking of the charge itself -- typically, the former is more common, as seen with their latest newfound supporter: the newly crowned Miss Russia, Elmira Abdrazakova.


SOURCES:

http://rt.com/politics/russias-human-rights-ombudsman-seeks-pussy-riot-sentence-canceled-886/
http://rbth.ru/society/2013/03/08/human_rights_ombudsman_seeks_to_overturn_pussy_riot_conviction_23653.html