Daily Lessons from Life 18 August 2012 - World leaders slam Russia over Pussy Riot sentence

"World leaders slam Russia over Pussy Riot sentence - AFP 18 August 2012

PARIS: The US led global condemnation on Friday of the two-year sentences meted out to Russian punk band Pussy Riot, as supporters of the women grabbed balaclavas and took to the streets in protest around the world.

The United States called the sentences "disproportionate", a criticism echoed by Britain, France and the European Union, which all used the same word in condemning the punishment handed down for the band's "punk prayer" against Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.

"We urge Russian authorities to review this case and ensure that the right to freedom of expression is upheld."

Band members Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich were each found guilty of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" for their February 21 protest in Moscow's biggest cathedral.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the sentences "excessively harsh" and chastised Russia for not living up to "the values of European law and democracy".

"Dynamic civil society and politically active citizens are necessary for Russia's modernisation and are not a threat to the country," she said.

In an unusually firm reaction, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton called on Moscow to overturn the punishment.

"This case adds to the recent upsurge in politically-motivated intimidation and prosecution of opposition activists in the Russian Federation," Ashton said.

"I expect that this sentence will be reviewed and reversed in line with Russia's international commitments," she added, saying the case "puts a serious question mark over Russia's respect for international obligations of fair, transparent, and independent legal process."

Protesters meanwhile took to the streets in cities around the world, including London, Kiev, Barcelona, Sofia, Brussels, Paris and New York.

The protests bolstered appeals from former Beatles star Paul McCartney, pop icon Madonna and a 10,000-person petition gathered by Amnesty International attacking Putin's growing crackdown on dissent."

I have NEVER heard of the Pussy Riot work until this case came to light. Notoriety or fame?

Lessons for me are:

1. President Putin is not getting what he thought he should be getting - admiration and awe at his achievement of engineering his 2nd coming as President after a stint as Premier. This must have troubled him. A man who, from his few publicity shoots I have seen, definitely craves Respect and Admiration;

2. will he lose any sleep over the supposedly international concerns or condemnation? Very unlikely. In fact he may snigger and then light up an expensive Havana cigar with a US$100 bill that his country is awash in due to the people's oil. While he has his detractors, he does has a lot of 'supporters' - genuine and those weather wane type.

3. as with ALL intervention by foreigners into a domestic matter, such interventions are NOT welcome even if they are perfectly valid. The fact remains ONLY the Russian people can decide what to make of Pussy Riot's act and if Putin and his government should be given that power to abuse the Russian people. If they allow it, that is the consequence they have to live with!

Responsible people get responsible government. Though sometimes with blood!