The current hot topic in Russian blogosphere is the release of Yekaterina Samutsevich – one of the three jailed members of Pussy Riot.
© РИА НОВОСТИ / Vladimir Astapkovich
Reactions of commentators obviously depend on their political affinity.
The bloggers leaning towards opposition seem to be disappointed and even angry with the court decision.
Take, for example, Anton Nosik – sometimes called the father of RuNet [Russian internet] – who since the imprisonment of three girls has written a number of emotional posts about Pussy Riot. Today he was clearly at a loss of words and only published the short post in which he “informed” his readers that Yekaterina Samutsevich was released.
Probably, what Nosik left between the lines, was expressed by another opposition blogger K. Martynov.
The fate of Samutsevich and ours
Yekaterina Samutsevich was released, while Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina stayed in jail. Now we can rejoice for Samutsevich and mourn for the rest of us.
Few days ago Samutsevich requested to appoint the new lawyer. Unexpectedly her request was “accepted” by the court, indicating that it [the court] benefited from her rejection of the team [of layers] Feygin, Polozov and Volkova.
In the version of the appeal, prepared by the new lawyers from “Agora”, they focused on the fact that Samutsevich was not involved in the criminal acts committed by other members of the group. Thus, on behalf of Samutsevich, the lawyers stopped denying the existence of crime in the actions of Pussy Riot. They simply said that Samutsevich had nothing to do with it.
She did not perform the demonic dance, infringing the canons of the Quinisext Council; she only entered the church and took off her jacket, after which she was immediately led out. Now it’s reasonable to assume that the actions of Samutsevich were not criminal; meanwhile, it’s up to the court to deal with the other girls – the real criminals. The lawyers from “Agora” wanted to overturn the decision of the Khamovniki District Court and stop the criminal prosecution for Samutsevich and only for her.
That is the solution found by Samutsevich after spending half year in jail. Fighting against the “system” is meaningless – now that you are lucky and haven’t jumped on the church amvon, it’s better to step aside. What about the others? Let them escape on their own. Half year ago this was united group with common goals, and now there is a reasonable feeling that it’s better if each takes care of herself.
In the current context it, alas, sounded like “Take those two instead of me.”
There are no complaints to “Agora” – they did what the client wanted, in strict accordance with the law ethics. Now the client is free and the lawyers can accept congratulations.
What will await now Yekaterina Samutsevich? She wasn’t found innocent, she is still convicted on criminal charges. She was just thrown a sop – opportunity not to rot for one and a half year in the penal colony. Will Samutsevich write to her friends? Will they reply? Will she be able to communicate with the children of Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova waiting for their mothers?
Samutsevich was clearly shown that it is better not to conflict with bosses, prosecutors and judges. It’s better to retreat, then you will be forgiven and not punished so painfully – you will only get the stigma of criminal conviction.
Now this case will be quoted in all possible ways by those who believe that “our court is the most humane and just court in the world”. [ed: famous phrase from iconic Soviet movie]. By corrupt prosecutors, judges and journalists who will say: you see, the sentence can be overruled, one only needs to choose the right lawyer and right tactics. The trial was impeccable, simply the lawyers of Tolokonnikova are rubbish.
The price for the freedom of Yekaterina Samutsevich was the justification of the Russian court and discrediting the entire campaign for Pussy Riot. She is freed in unfree country, where her freedom can be taken away for any excuse and at any time she can be send back to jail. And those two who are in jail – stay there for our freedom.
She is probably a wonderful person, but that is her role now. Scum in uniform [ed: authorities] targeted the weak link, the one who would be the first to break down.
And in a totally different tone was written the post of Kristina Potupchik, one of the most vocal supporters of Putin in Russian internet.
Probation instead of prison
Two years jail term for Samutsevich from Pussy Riot was changed to a suspended sentence. The verdicts of Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova left unchanged.
This decision is not surprising at all. Samutsevich did not participate in the dance, she was immediately caught by security. So, it is natural that when the PR-seeker Violetta Volkova was replaced by normal attorneys from “Agora”, who chose the right line of defense, the court reviewed the previous decision.
The lawyers deserve separate acknowledgement. Few days were enough for them to get acquainted with the materials of the case, despite the conspicuous reluctance of Violetta Volkova to assist. And in those few days they have built a better line of defense than Volkova in four months.
Well, now we will wait when Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova decide to change the lawyers. The defenders should engage in defense and not in raiding, twitter scandals or giving interviews on account of their defendants.
Yekaterina Samutsevich hugs with father
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This is what would have happened months ago, and to all three, had the Pussies and their lawyers not absolutely insisted on politicizing the case from the get go.
But then they wouldn’t get the Sakharov Prize :)
Father or RuNet? He invented it, or he gave himself the name? All I know about him are his drug habits, and I would not trust him because of it.
This is how Nosik is called in the Russian Wikipedia article about him.
The article explains that Nosik was founder or editor of such major online media resources as Vesti.ru, Lenta.ru, Gazeta.ru, NEWSru.com. And also he participated in the development of LiveJournal – which is the main blogging platform in Russia.
So, probably, if he is not father – he was standing somewhere nearby “when it happened” :-)
A pimp?
Crazy…. Hard to decide what to feel about that one, because it does kind of seem she left her comrades in jail, but maybe she can lobby outside for help. In the end, I’m sure it huge news, as people around the world are bringing them up all the time.
Russians hate when outsiders try to intrude in their affairs and PR is a classic example. 98% of respondents to polls disapprove of the group’s actions. At the same time you have a Western press really overhyping the situation, calling them the next Mandela and projecting their own interpretations and theories. My prediction: victory for the Slavophiles.
Northern Americans won a prize in the Guiness Book of Records : Stalin killed 6 million people in order to keep the biggest country in the world together , Hitler killed 8 milion and US killed after the Great Patriotic War 9 milion people . .
That is why we should stop Zionistic Anglo American Military Murder Machine from killing Syrians as our Alexander Gregorowits soulfully said !
Pussy Riot is right. 95 % of religions are made to control and exploit people , not to enlighten and inspire like Zen Buddism does . .
So Mr. Putin and Polit Buro of China, please stop this fighting about the gas price . . and tickle US a little. . like u did in Georgia ))) Condoleezza Rice with Curry did not have an artgasm for 6 weeks )))
And Pussy Riot Ladies deserve to see their kids ones a month , democracy is in ur heart , not in ur gun i hope . . and in all cases send these ladies some warm underwear for the holidays ((*))
i wish u all real friends and unreal love , and a country where leaders are chosen on base of respect ))
This event, of course, was not widely covered in the West.
So hypocritical. I am against their arrest, but does anyone really think that if a group did what they did in the West – Maybe in the National Cathedral or in the Holocaust Museum – the penalty would be any less?
Shortly. It is necessary to respect the religion of any people equally. Pussy Riot made a humiliating act. This neglect and humiliation feelings of millions of believers. This is not a fight, it’s a silly circus. Well-deserved punishment.