KARACHI: Members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot have been jailed for two years after being proved guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred in a Moscow court after their performance in February inside a Russian Orthodox cathedral.
Three members sentenced prison were, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29. The women have already been in jail for over five months.
Judge Marina Syrova commented the three women had "crudely undermined social order."
"It was confirmed during the court hearings that Tolokonnikova, Samutsevich, and Alyokhina carried out an act of hooliganism, or a gross violation of public order, which showed open disrespect for society and was motivated by religious hatred, hostility, and hatred toward a social group, and which was a premeditated conspiracy by a group of people," Syrova said.
“The performance was a clear, gross violation of the commonly accepted norms and rules of behavior, considering the content and the place. The defendants violated the commonly accepted norms and rules of behavior, which are the foundations of public order inside the Christ the Savior Cathedral," the Judge added.
Celebrities including Paul McCartney, Madonna and Bjork have come forward to support the band. Protests in support of the band members were also held in a few dozen cities. A few dozen people came out in Barcelona, Spain, a couple hundred in Paris, and some in Washington too.
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