www.billnelson.com

I live in Moscow and have been follwing the trial closely. The 3 jailed members of the band staged a protest in a church which used to be a swimming pool in Soviet times. The protest was not anti church, but simply anti government protest. They are being charged with hooliganism and religious hatred. Hooliganism? They have never hit, maimed or attempted to hurt anyone.They are young women who do not want to sit back and take in Putin's dictorial extermities any longer. The feeling of protest is in the air since Putin came back into power. This is a country where bribery and corruption is par for the course. Believe me, I have had to bribe officials to avoid extreme bureaucracy. All Russian people and ex pats like myself know full well the levels of corruption that take place in Russia. These three women are facing 7 years in prison. This is sickeningly hard line that is quite hard to take and of course it may prove counter productive to Putin's Russia. The world is watching Vladimir! One of Putin's yes men appeared on CNN news the other day and stated that most Russians are offended by Pussy Riot's actions. So wrong. I meet different Russian citizens all the time, and not one person has stated they have been offended by the Punk Prayer. I think and I hope I'm wrong, that the women will get the 7 years, because Putin will never back down on this issue, he reminds me of a white Idi Amin, all powerful and cocksure! Now the state Duma have announced they want to ban websites that critisize Russian authority. Google, Live Journal and other engines have expressed complaint. What is the problem with the nature of protest in Russia? One term that has come into the frame recently about the nature of protest concerning protest websites is 'foreign agents' could get involved!!!! Foreign agents? A soviet tag line if there ever was one! I am bewildered at this soviet throwback! My adopted country is wild beyond extremes!

Putin always seems to me a 'throwback' to the worst of the USSR days. He doesn't intend to let go of power.

he is a complete throwback, and he makes the rules up whenever he pleases, so he can stay in power. He is now in power of a six year term in office. I just saw the BBC report he has for the first time said that Pussy Riot should not be punished severly! Why now in London? maybe because of the criticism he is getting that the women have been kept in prison for the last 9 months, thier children have been banned from seeing them.

I think if Pussy Riot get 7 years in jail it will be the end for Putin and I suspect he is starting too realise it with his comments in London recently.

Russia is a corrupt, macho, sexist country with an underlying racist problem to boot. More power to Pussy Riot and their spirit of rebellion.

The verdict is going to be on the 17th of August. It´s likely they will get three years. I hope and pray they get pardoned. But as the last person said, Russia is corrupt, macho and sexist, all very true. However the rascism is not really underlying, Russia´s racism is very open, the cops condone this open racism. 50% of the worlds right wing skinhead culture is in Russia. Also extremely homophobic to boot.

Guilty? Whatever happened to free speech? Oh yeah, forgot, it's RUSSIA! Get up-to-date!!!!

I was watching the BBC Breakfast News and at no time during any of the reports did they mention the name "Pussy Riot"

Maybe the BBC didn´t want to say Pussy on live TV? Well they got 2 years each for singing and dancing. I wish Russia would wake up, maybe in 100 years! A country were I have to walk around with a passport all day in case I get stopped by the racist cops. I have been stopped twice in the last 9 years. The first time they thought I was Spanish, they second time they thought I was a Chechnian with a concealed gun, the second time I was out walking in red square with my wife and son, they put me up against the wall and searched me and for the non exsistent gun! The cops always choose people who do not look Russian just to humiliate them.

Sounds like a great place to live.

Steviegray - what is happening in Russia in response to this appalling decision ? Do you know is there anything that someone in UK can do ?