Pussy Riot will not leave prison even if Putin pardons them unconditionally

You remember that when “liberal Medvedev” was president, he was begged to pardon Khodorkovsky. To which lawyer Medvedev demanded: let him repent and ask me personally. And I will consider his request. This would mean for Khodorkovsky to admit that he is a thief and has been imprisoned all these years for theft, and not for politics. Pundits, pillars of jurisprudence, explained to Medvedev: they say, according to the law, no petition from the convicted person is needed, your “royal mercy” is enough. But the newly-minted “Alexander the Second” was adamant.

Today history is repeating itself. “His Imperial Majesty,” condescending to the requests of the Church, can act according to the law, that is, pardon the women from Pussy Riot without any requests on their part. By your own will. This will be joy for the West. And a profit for the image. What will the prisoners do in this case? I asked the girls' lawyer Violetta Volkova to ask them about this. Let's imagine. Suddenly the gates to their zones open. Ahead lies freedom, families, children. The "Tsar" pardoned you, go home... He forgave you for your crime against the "spiritual foundations" of Russian statehood." On Monday, Violetta asked the prisoners this question and received a categorical answer. Pussy Riot will not exchange freedom for the "mercy of the emperor", for recognition of their “crime”, they will agree to the legality of the “Syrovsky trial”.