It was mid-spring when Vladmir Putin was ceremoniously instated as the president of Russia. There were months of protests against his campaign, that criticized the hegemonic nature of his political party “United Russia” and his personal dominance of the voting system. Aljazeera International News reports on May 7, 2012 outside the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Vladmir Putin gave his speech of acceptance for his third term as president of the Russian Republic. His reelection came at the anguish of groups of educated, urban-middle class citizens of Russia. “The Guardian” reports their initial attack upon the government started in December 2011 after reports of vote rigging during the republic’s parliamentary election. Many protesting citizens complain about the corruption of elections and politics, claiming most of the political process is ultimately rigged for personal gain. More reports and citizen claims have come flooding into the public view over the past year about political corruption. Sergei Vorobyov, a young businessman from Moscow, the financial controller of a medium-sized business firm that imports video equipment for exhibitions or conferences, talks about recent business with NPR. “We cannot win a state contract unless we promise to pay a specific person a specific sum, in cash…” Vorobyov also goes on to explain public institutions’ inclination toward bribery. Hospitals, prisons, universities, etc. are all now subject to blackmail and bribery. “I think the judges are not the judges, the police are not the police, the central bank inspectors are not the central bank inspectors, and finally, the bureaucrats are not the bureaucrats. They’re after quick profit, through corruption,” said Vorobyov. Literature has been written on the subject, and cultural mobilization has already begun. Much stronger willed than the Occupy Movement, groups of educated, middle-class urbanites flooded the streets regularly during the months leading up to the election.
In March 2012, a punk rock group named “Pussy Riot” joined the protesting. Further study upon the subject in recent months has determined connections between political corruption and the Russian Orthodox Church reports Amnesty International. On March 3, three of the 11 musicians from Pussy Riot: Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, staged a concert within Christ Savior Cathedral, a very prominent house of worship in Moscow, and began screaming, “Mother Mary please drive Putin away!” The local law enforcement arrested two of the three women for their disruptive behavior on accounts of hooliganism and offense to the Russian Orthodox Church. Samutsevich was arrested later on March 15. Their sentence for their “unruly behavior,” CNN reports, is two years of imprisonment. Many of their fellow band members have fled the country for fear of further entailment.
Amnesty International reports and complains to the Russian Government:
“Reports indicate that Russian police are also hunting for two other members of Pussy Riot in relation to the cathedral performance. The two-year prison sentence handed down to Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova is far too severe, and arresting other members of the group would only add to this injustice.
The cathedral performance was a peaceful protest against President Vladimir Putin and those leaders of the Orthodox Church who have supported his repressive tactics. While it is true that many Russians were offended by Pussy Riot’s actions, the women never incited violence and they do not deserve prison terms. They were prosecuted for political reasons and they are prisoners of conscience.
I call on you to immediately stop the search for the two other members of Pussy Riot who performed in the cathedral. It is up to you to uphold the fundamental right to freedom of expression in Russia and ensure that there are no additional arrests or trials related to this case.”
Amnesty International needs your help to effectively communicate to the Russian Government to release these prisoners of conscience currently imprisoned for political motives. Visit takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ to write your own letter to the Russian Government.
“Amnesty International works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. Currently the world’s largest grassroots human rights organization, the organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and helps to transform societies to create a safer, more just world. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize for its life-saving work.” (See www.amnestyusa.org/about-us for more information.)
For more information or involvement, join West Chester University’s Amnesty International Organization. Meetings are Thursday afternoons at 4 p.m. in Ruby Jones 204. We focus on community service, letter writing, newspaper writing, information sessions, and protests.
Alex Hickman is a fourth-year student majoring in Political Science with a minor in International relations. He can be reached at AH728435@wcupa.edu.