Residents of more than 40 cities took to street demonstrations in defense of the members of the punk band. The wide public outcry caused by this trial is explained by increased interest in Russia's domestic politics on the part of the world community, experts suggest.

Protests took place around the world in support of Pussy Riot. Hundreds of people in different countries gathered to show support for the members of this punk band. The court on Friday sentenced the girls to two years in prison for the rally they staged in February at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Protests took place in more than 40 cities. In particular, in Kyiv, Barcelona and London.

Correspondent of the Kommersant Ukraine newspaper Sergei Sidorenko: “Activists of the notorious women's movement Femen used a chainsaw to knock down a wooden cross, which was erected in the very center of Kiev near Maidan Nezalezhnosti in memory of the repressions of the communist regime. The police arrived there quite quickly, but did not detain anyone I was able to, because the girls retreated very quickly. A criminal case was opened against them - “group hooliganism” - up to four years in prison. They stated that they were cutting down the cross in support of Pussy Riot, against the “priest-Putin” regime.

Leader of the international movement “Speak Louder” Andrei Sidelnikov, organizer of a rally in support of Pussy Riot in Spain: There were about 50 people. People were wearing balaclavas and holding "Free Pussy Riot" signs in different languages: Spanish, English, Russian. The Russians who live in Barcelona came. A lot of punks came. We provided musical accompaniment - the song of that punk prayer that was said in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. And we made a religious procession around the Sagrada Familia. The police monitored what was happening but did not intervene.

Kommersant FM correspondent Andrei Ostalsky: “In my opinion, this is the largest anti-Russian demonstration that London has ever seen. There were a lot of Englishmen and British people. Passing cars honked their horns as a sign of support very often, the Russians who were there shouted, and The British also learned to shout “Freedom to Pussy Riot” in Russian. There were quite a lot of red posters when the demonstrators heard the verdict and shouted “Shame.”

People pay too much attention to the Pussy Riot trial, and it’s not worth it, says Alexander Gusev, director of the Institute of Strategic Planning and Forecasting.

“This is too much, of course, such a resonance. What is happening now around the Pussy Riot scandal, on the one hand, causes surprise, such increased interest, on the other hand, irritation. Because people have many problems besides Pussy Riot, and to emphasize attention... And the media only talk about this, they pay a lot of attention to this process. I think it’s not worth it. The increased interest indicates that there is increased attention to Russia, to our country,” he believes.

A rally in support of Pussy Riot was also held in Moscow. It is estimated that several thousand people gathered at the Khamovnichesky Court, where the members of the punk band were sentenced.

Do you think Pussy Riot's sentence was fair? This survey is conducted by Kommersant FM on its Facebook page. You too can vote and share your opinion .

Fedor Tsekhmistrenko

Pussy Riot received a verdict and worldwide support