Pussy Riot

A discussion and lecture event
and an ordinary general meeting

Speakers are:

Nikolai Polozov, lawyer, Moscow (defence lawyer for Pussy Riot)
Andre Sikojev, priest, representative at the seat of the Federal Government and the German Bundestag, Russian Orthodox Diocese of the Orthodox Bishop of Berlin and Germany,
Martin Valchanov, research assistant at the Institute for Eastern Law at the University of Cologne,
Dr. Rainer Birke, lawyer and specialist in criminal law, Düsseldorf,
Dr Stefan Meister, German Council on Foreign Relations, Berlin,

Moderator: Karin Holloch, lawyer, Düsseldorf

Programme:

Pussy Riot is a punk rock band founded in Moscow in 2011 that has attracted attention through spontaneous performances in public places. Three of the band members – Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samuzevich – were sentenced to two years in prison each for hooliganism out of religious hatred for their “Punk Prayer” on 21 February 2012 in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in the first instance. On 10 October 2012, the Court of Appeal upheld the sentence against Al-Yokhina and Tolokonnikova, and Samuzevich was released on parole.

The trial and sentencing triggered many international reactions: stars like Sting, Madonna and Paul McCartney publicly supported the musicians. German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised the first instance verdict as “disproportionately harsh”. It is “not in line with the European values of the rule of law and democracy”. Russian lawyers published an open letter calling the trial and conviction unlawful.

Russian opinion polls show a different picture: according to the Romir research institute, 70 % of the Russian population rate Pussy Riot’s performance negatively. The Levada Institute reported that 46% of Russians think a punishment of between two and seven years is adequate, and 44% of Russians believe in the objectivity of the court process.

We want to discuss this broad spectrum of opinion on 14 November 2012 on the basis of ju-ristic analyses. Which penal norms have been applied here? Did an objective and fair trial take place? What is the basis for the strong rejection of the verdict in Western countries?

Nikolai Polozov, defence lawyer for the convicted band members, who will speak from the perspective of the perpetrators as a participant in the proceedings, will discuss the issue. Priest Andre Sikojev will contrast this with the view of the Russian Orthodox Church, which claims the violation of a sacred space and of religious feelings.

Martin Valchanov graduated from the law faculty of MGIMO (Moscow) and is doing his doctorate on Russian canon law. He will shed light on the Russian offence of hooliganism and the legal status of the Russian Church. Dr. Rainer Birke, specialist lawyer for criminal law, will contrast this with German legal norms and explain how such an act would have been judged in Germany.

Both President Putin and Prime Minister Medvedev have commented on the ongoing proceedings. Dr Stefan Meister will analyse the political dimension and the politicisation of the criminal proceedings.