In just days, three women arrested by the
Russian government could be sentenced to spend up to three years in prison for
singing protest songs denouncing president Vladimir Putin. The women
have been in prison without bail since February.
In response to
the government's crackdown, artists in London and Berlin are organizing
protests, and international stars like Madonna are speaking out for the three
women still held in jail. More pressure is needed to set them free.
Canadian singer
Peaches is known for her controversial lyrics -- and when she saw the
government's response to these women for speaking out, Peaches started a petition with other musicians on Change.org
asking the prosecution to drop the charges and set the women
free.
Nadia, Masha,
and Katya joined the musicians known as "Pussy Riot" to help raise awareness of
government corruption. Together with a handful of other committed young women,
they dress up in colorful clothing and sing about what they think is wrong with
their country.
Now that
they've been arrested, the band and the case have drawn international attention.
Musicians across the globe are rallying to the cause, with Madonna interrupting
her concert in Moscow this week to voice her support, and Russian artist Pyotr
Pavlensky sewing his mouth shut in protest.
President Putin
is starting to show sensitivity to the pressure, and the defense lawyer
has told the press that he thinks the judge may be moved by outside
influence. To ramp up the pressure, supporters of the Pussy Riot
defendants are planning to deliver petition signatures from thousands of people
around the world calling on Russian authorities to release the women.
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