Media mogul and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday became the highest profile backer of a campaign to free jailed Russian protestors Pussy Riot.
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alehina – all members of the anarchic Pussy Riot punk band – have been in prison since March, held on charges of hooliganism which could eventually mean a seven-year sentence, after attempting to perform a protest anthem inside Moscow's most important Orthodox church, Christ the Saviour cathedral. But with no trial date set, no signs that they will be released and opposition to Putin spreading, support for the trio has grown, even among those who at first condemned them.
The campaign to free the trio has been gradually gaining ground across all sections of Russian society and beyond into the wider world with support from one-time Beastie Boy Ad-Rock and punk band Anti-Flag. The hashtag #freepussyriot has been trending worldwide on Twitter, and it's on this that Mr Berlusconi responded to in declaring his support.
Asked by our reporter why he supported the expansion of democracy in Russia, Mr Berlusconi "I'm supporting what? I thought it was..... Oh, never mind".
This is not the news
Showing posts with label Vladimir Putin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vladimir Putin. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Putin wins 2024 election
Russian President and former Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today celebrated winning the 2024 election with 64% of the vote to secure his third spell in the Kremlin.
He takes over from 2020 winner Dimitri Medvedev who served just one term before seeing Putin take the spoils once more four years later. Putin served two consecutive terms from 2000 before being forced aside by the Russian constitution with Medvedev serving one four-year term before Putin's return to win the 2012 and 2016 Presidential races. Again, Medvedev took the honours, but served just one term before Putin won a fifth landslide by a conveniently large amount of the vote.
"I'm so happy I could cry" said Putin before adding "if it wasn't for all the botox".
Putin has also been installed as strong favourite for the 2028 election, the results of which are expected to be announced in a fortnight's time.
He takes over from 2020 winner Dimitri Medvedev who served just one term before seeing Putin take the spoils once more four years later. Putin served two consecutive terms from 2000 before being forced aside by the Russian constitution with Medvedev serving one four-year term before Putin's return to win the 2012 and 2016 Presidential races. Again, Medvedev took the honours, but served just one term before Putin won a fifth landslide by a conveniently large amount of the vote.
"I'm so happy I could cry" said Putin before adding "if it wasn't for all the botox".
Putin has also been installed as strong favourite for the 2028 election, the results of which are expected to be announced in a fortnight's time.
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