Russia’s Pussy Riot supported by Jarvis Cocker, Pete Townshend and Johnny Marr

Pussy Riot, the political punk band jailed in Russia and currently facing trial, have been backed by musicians including Jarvis Cocker, Pete Townshend and Johnny Marr. The stars have written an open letter to Russia president Vladimir Putin asking him to give a fair hearing to members of the  band – who they say were performing a ‘legitimate protest’.
In February, the band – made up of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, and Maria Alekhina, 24 – played an anti-Putin ‘punk prayer’ in a Moscow cathedral. It asked the Virgin Mary to remove Putin from power.

Although Pussy Riot ‘officially’ has three members, the masked group has become something of a movement, with additional young women in Russia donning the band’s trademark coloured masks and joining its ranks.

‘We are extremely concerned about the treatment they have received since their arrest and during their trial,” says the letter printed in The Times today – which is also signed by Martha Wainwright and the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant.

Putin was due to land in London today to meet with Prime Minister David Cameron, who is expected to raise the matter.

It continues: ‘‘Dissent is a right in any democracy and it is entirely disproportionate that they face seven years in jail for what we consider a preposterous charge of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”.

‘We are especially concerned about recent reports that food is being withheld from them and that they have appeared in court in a cage.

‘We believe firmly that it is the role of the artist to make legitimate political protest and fight for freedom of speech.

‘As he visits the United Kingdom this week, we ask President Putin to ensure these three women receive a fair hearing.’

Pussy Riot were arrested in March, charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility.

The trio pleaded not guilty on Monday but said sorry for any offence caused by their performance. If convicted they could face up to seven years in prison

Source: Music Week