Maria Alyokhina, member of the Russian feminist group Pussy Riot, has started a hunger strike in jail after being denied an appearance at her own parole hearing. Alyokhina and fellow Pussy Riot member, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, are currently serving out a 2-year sentence after protesting Russian President, Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
In March 2012 members of the Russian feminist group, Pussy Riot, were arrested with charges of hooliganism. The arrest followed a February 2012 protest performance in the priest-only section of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ Our Savior. The Pussy Riot performance was in protest to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his relationship with leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church.
The members of Pussy Riot that were incarcerated in March 2012 were Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich. Yekaterina was released on appeal in October of last year, however Nadezhda was denied parole last month and last week Maria was denied access to her own parole hearing. Maria has sought a deferred sentence in January to care for her 5-year old son and was denied by the courts, and after learning she would not be allowed to attend her parole hearing, she has initiated a hunger strike. Along with a hunger strike she has ordered that her lawyer be barred from attending the hearing in her stead. Alyokhina made the announcement during a video link with her lawyer and her hearing was pushed back.
Alyokhina’s mother, Natalia, spoke about the court’s decisions and her daughter’s incarceration on Svoboda Radio, saying, “This looked not like a court hearing but like arm-twisting. Clearly the court was not interested in the character of the convict, because the decision was likely made in advance.”
Paul McCartney has also actively attempted to aid the band members in being released from jail by contacting Russian officials.
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