Translated material
Alexey Kudrin about the Pussy Riot verdict
The verdict in the case of the punk band Pussy Riot is not only a fact of the biography of three young women. This is another blow to the judicial system and, above all, to the trust of Russian citizens in it.
The Pussy Riot trial blatantly misrepresents what they did. In a secular court, the state prosecutor bases the charge on violation of church codes only to justify criminal punishment. But if we use the prosecution’s argument, the committed act should be qualified as “Insulting the feelings of believers,” which provides for liability under Article 5.26, Part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offences—a fine of up to 1 thousand rubles.
As in a secular state, in Russia there is not and cannot be criminal punishment for violating written or unwritten church norms.
Many of us cannot possibly support what Pussy Riot did. But no matter how you evaluate it, the persecution of the girls split society, made clear the unconstitutional fusion of state and church, weakened the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church, and contributed to the radicalization of public sentiment, since the triumph of senseless cruelty undermines public morality more than any shocking actions. The image and investment attractiveness of the country has suffered enormous damage.
The Committee of Civil Initiatives considers its task to ensure the independence of the judicial system, the secular nature of the state, and the protection of human dignity. By the end of this year, we will present for public discussion the concept of reform of the law enforcement function of the state.