The controversy surrounding the imprisoned members of Pussy Riot has taken an interesting turn with news that the feminist punk group is among nominees for TIME Magazine’s respected Person of the Year Award 2012.
“In a year when so many voices of liberty and dissent have suffered harsh retribution, the Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot has paid a particularly steep price for provocative political expression,” says TIME Magazine of the Russian punk collective.
Earlier this year, three members of the all-female Russian punk band were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” and sentenced to two years imprisonment. Pussy Riot members Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, were convicted in August for their staged performance and protest held against the Russian Orthodox Church’s support of President Vladimir Putin.
Since then, Yekaterina Samutsevich has been released from jail after an appeal by her lawyer, according to BBC, that argued she “had been thrown out of the cathedral by guards before she could remove her guitar from its case for the band’s ‘punk prayer’,” which was performed after the three women stormed the altar of Moscow’s Christ The Saviour Cathedral earlier this year.
Remaining members Maria and Nadezhda have since vowed to continue the appeal process. Despite apologising for their actions, the band refuses to show remorse, claiming “for us to repent – that’s unacceptable, it’s a kind of blackmail.”“In a year when so many voices of liberty and dissent have suffered harsh retribution, the Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot has paid a particularly steep price for provocative political expression.” – TIME Magazine
Throughout the saga the whole band, particularly the convicted trio, have received support from a vast array of musical acts and government officials, including Julia Gillard, who were outraged by the sentencing decision.
Musical icons Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Madonna have been amongst individuals who have forwardly voiced their support of Pussy Riot and their deep disappointment in the Russian judicial system.
Canadian DIY artist and forthcoming Meredith act Grimes, aka Clare Boucher, who is of Ukrainian-Russian descent remarked of the controversy surrounding the court decision: “a lot of people are just realising now how fucked up Russia is… I’m not surprised at all that that situation is happening. I think it’s something that happens more than people know.”
Pussy Riot’s Person of the Year nomination further cements the strength of the unwavering support for the Russian collective by many different influential organisations and individuals. The band is one of few musical acts to make the list, which also includes rapper Jay-Z and Korean pop sensation Psy (of ‘Gangnam Style’ fame).
Other nominees include President Barack Obama, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James showing that the nominations quite clearly span quite a diverse bunch.
The winner will be chosen by TIME Magazine’s editors and announced on December 21st. In the meantime, TIME readers are encouraged to vote for the winner of a ‘people’s choice award, which will be announced a week ahead on December 14th. For the full 2012 list (and to vote) head here.
