Statement regarding the release of Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina
We all recognize that the whole amnesty program is a PR move by Putin, likely of course a bit of image clean up prior to the Olympics, said Hunter Heaney, Executive Director of The Voice Project, an organization that has worked behind the scenes for the women’s release and worked together with family members to keep the Pussy Riot women safe and monitored while they were in the camps, raising over $120,000 for the support efforts. Amnesty being granted to two women put in prison for a 40 second song performance, who would have been released in a mere couple of months, after missing nearly two years with their young children and loved ones is, of course, absurd. Last minute amnesty does not make up for that or the rule of law denied to so many others by the Putin regime and our thoughts are with them today. However, we are so happy that Nadya and Masha are safe, have come through this ordeal healthy and strong, and two young mothers will now be getting to see their children. A very large community of activists and donors around the world have worked hard to help to see that happen.
Photos courtesy of Pyotr Verzilov
