Global Feminist Daily News Wire
November-29-12

Russian Court Bans Pussy Riot Videos

On Thursday, a court in Moscow ruled that videos of Pussy Riot's performance at Christ the Savior Cathedral must be removed from websites. The court ruling stated that the group's performance that made international headlines was "extremist" and ruled that access to four videos of the feminist punk band's performances be immediately blocked from the internet.

After a thirty day appeal period, Russian Internet providers must block access to the videos. Any Russian servers that host forbidden content can face criminal prosecution. The Russian office for Google told reporters they would not remove the content until they received a court order. Servers and hosts outside of Russia will not be affected by the court's ruling.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Marina Alyokhina, 24, are currently serving two-year sentences for "hooliganism" after they were arrested for performing a "punk prayer" (video) on the altar of Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in dissent of Vladimir Putin. A third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, was released from prison after an appeal. The members entered the church wearing bright colors and balaclavas, singing "Mother of God, Blessed Virgin, drive out Putin!" The band members said their intent was to challenge the Church's political support for Putin and to show their dissatisfaction with Putin's 12-year political dominance.

Media Resources: BBC News 11/29/12; RIA Novosti 11/29/12; Washington Post 11/29/12; Feminist Newswire 10/10/2012, 8/17/2012, 7/30/12

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