Madonna Supports Russia’s Pussy Riot

Drew Grant — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:53:32 -0400

"Pussy Riot" Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (L), Maria Alyokhina (R) and Yekaterina Samutsevich (C) (Getty Images)

In February, a punk riot band from Russia with the very late-90s name Pussy Riot were arrested when they desecrated one of the most powerful cathedrals in Moscow. The trio infuriated the Orthodox Church by staging a "prayer" of profanity-laced, anti-Putin sentiment. The three women were charged with "hooliganism" (which is a thing), and have yet to be released on bail.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich could be looking at anywhere from 3-7 years of jail time, even though President Putin himself said that he did not agree with the severity of the sentence.

The whole tale is long and sordid, and as much about Russia's own hooliganism over its citizens as it is about censorship, but hey look over here Madonna's shown up!

Madonna, who is putting on a show in Moscow as well as open a Hard Candy fitness club, said about the incident:

"I am against censorship and my whole career I always promoted freedom of expression, freedom of speech, so obviously I think what's happening to them is unfair and I hope that they do not.... I hope they do not have to serve seven years in jail. That would be a tragedy."

Thanks Madonna! Now, if only you could get someone to try and prosecute you for being as inherently provocative as these women were...maybe you could show your butt or a nipple on-stage during another show? Maybe slip a swastika on Putin's head during your concert? Hey, we're just going with your tried and true repertoire, here.

Observer » Madonna Supports Russia’s Pussy Riot

Madonna Supports Russia’s Pussy Riot