Russian Punk Rockers in Jail for Anti-Putin Prayer
A Russian court ordered two female punk rockers to remain in jail Wednesday for praying to the Virgin Mary to deliver the nation from Vladimir Putin in a spontaneous performance in the country’s main Orthodox cathedral.
Five members of the band Pussy Riot — wearing brightly colored homemade ski masks and miniskirts — briefly seized the pulpit of Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in late February to chant “Mother Mary, drive Putin away.”
In less then a minute, the women were rounded up by security guards. Two of them were later arrested and face up to seven years in jail on charges of hooliganism.
Putin, who won a third presidential term in a March 4 election, described the performance as “unpleasant for all believers” and expressed hope that it would not be repeated.