Stew Hume,

Correspondent (Music)

 

Through each decade, there have been cases where music has gained media attention as they protest against those in power. Who can forget the Sex Pistols’ mockery of the queen’s jubilee boat trip as they hosted a gig on the Themes; or even when Rage Against the Machine forced the New York stock exchange to close.

Very rarely, however, does a musical protest lead to serious sentences. Often, the result is a metaphorical slap on the wrist for making a scene, as it is perceived to just to grab some media attention. In western society, the right to demonstrate your views and beliefs through your art has always been something artists take for granted. Recently in Russia, it seems that this freedom of speech may no longer exist.

Pussy Riot’s (an all female punk band) recent activities grabbed media attention, when on the 21st of February they hosted a short show (although a demonstration may be a better word) at an alter in the Main Cathedral at Moscow. This protest resulted in the arrest of 3 band members. Recently, Yekaterina Samutsevich’s, 30, sentence was suspended but her fellow members Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22 are now facing a 2-year sentence.

The ‘show’ in question lasted less than two minuets in where the authority reprimanded members of the group. The short demonstration did have strong message. The song ‘punk prayer’ was a calling for the Virgin Mary to remove Putin from power. The demonstration was a reaction to the Orthodox Church’s recently given support to the newly re-elected president.

There is a troubling feeling to this story and that is the question of freedom of speech. There is no doubt that even in the West, hooliganism in a church would result in an arrest, but the idea of such a severe sentence is unthinkable. Music has always been a medium to convey your beliefs and is essential in a democracy.  The husband of the arrested Tolokonnikova, Pyotr Verzilov, argued that this is evidence of Russia becoming more like China and North Korea. There has also been some suggestion that this is Putin’s own personal revenge.

Like many protests, this one is likely to be sensational. However, for those in Russia preaching similar views in their music and art might be starting to worry about the possibility of facing similar censorship.

The band has received worldwide support from many other musicians such as Paul McCartney and Madonna, who seem to share the belief that you should not be arrested for the expression for your beliefs. Even Amnesty International has shown an interest believing the band is a prisoner of conscience. Unfortunately, it seems that the band has not received such support back home as a majority of the Russian population agree with the sentence . Another huge chunk of Russian society are not seeming to bothered either way.

Despite the less favourable support on their home turf, the other members of the band have promised more protests so this may not be the end of the ‘Pussy riot vs. President Putin’ saga. But with the risk of freedom of speech potentially in the balance for Russia, the world can only watch on for the next episode.