The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has now fined the Russian state for an attack on the punk band Pussy Riot. The incident took place in 2014. At the time, the band members who were critical of the government were pushed, flogged and attacked with pepper spray.
Those affected complained to the police about the violence, but “criminal proceedings were never initiated,” criticized the Strasbourg court staff. Members of the feminist band were performing a new song at the Sochi Winter Olympics when they were attacked by Cossacks. According to the ECtHR, if the Cossacks support the police, they are financed and tightly controlled by the Russian state. Therefore, the Russian state is also responsible for the unjustified violence and the ‘degrading treatment’ of the musicians.
15,000 euros in compensation per capita
According to the ruling, Russia must pay each of the five Pussy Riot accusers €15,000 in damages and €7,200 in costs and expenses. Although the country was expelled from the Council of Europe last year due to the war in Ukraine, it remains obligated to implement court decisions related to acts prior to September 16, 2022.
The punk group is best known for spontaneous actions and protest songs with which they criticize the Russian leadership of Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin. For example, in 2012 she sang a “punk prayer” at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, publicly denouncing Putin. At the time, several band members were arrested, now they live in exile.
Here’s a post from the band on X (formerly Twitter).
Pussy Riot regularly urges respect for human rights in Russia and criticizes the war in Ukraine. The group has received several awards for their work, this year in the US with the Woody Guthrie Prize (see video above).
Source: Krone
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