Pussy Riot Provoking Thought Worldwide

           On Tuesday February 20th, the members of the punk group Pussy Riot were once again detained in Russia shortly after having been released in December after a 2 year prison sentence for “premeditated hooliganism”. Nadezdha Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina as well as ten other people were taken in for questioning regarding a theft of a
woman’s handbag that took place in the hotel in which they were staying. No charges were filed against Pussy Riot and they were released later that day.

                Tolokonnikova had said that she and other members of Pussy Riot have been constantly tailed since arriving in Sochi, but stated that they have not been active and that
they were simply walking in Sochi.  

                Since then, other members of the group were stopped by Cossack militia while they were staging an impromptu performance under a sign advertising the Sochi Olympics. Six group members were whipped and pepper-sprayed by at least ten Cossacks and other security officials. One of Pussy Riot’s famous arrestees Nadezdha Tolokonnikova was beat with a whip as she lay on the ground.

                The event itself is not as critical when compared to the larger movement that these protests symbolize. These efforts at suppression by the Russian government have been repressing Pussy Riot, as well as other activists and groups who oppose their ideologies. The growing exposure, interest, and protests concerning the Putin regime have shed light on the country in a new way, and could be on their way to provoking change; not without certain mishaps along the way though. The members of the band have said that Vladmir Putin is scared of them, and I believe that he should be.

                With Russia facing extensive criticism from all fronts, these protests are another nagging issue for Putin, and combined with all the other issues that Putin is being challenged on, mean that Russians and people all over the world will be forced to think. 

Original Sources:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/18/pussy-riot-members-arrested-sochi-winter-olympics

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/2-pussy-riot-members-arrested-and-released-near-sochi-20140218

http://world.time.com/2014/02/18/pussy-riot-detained/

More Human Rights Controversy Surrounding Sochi Olympics

https://www.facebook.com/NoSochi2014/photos_stream

          In Maykop, Russia on Friday February 7^th, a prominent community leader was arrested. Asker Sokht who is part of the country's Circassian ethnic minority was arrested while attempting to hold a protest castigating the Sochi Olympics.

          This arrest proves significant to an estimated 800, 000 Circassians. The Circassians once occupied the territory surrounding the northern coast of the Black Sea. The Circassians were removed from the area by murder and deportation in a conflict with the Russian army in the 19th century. The Circassians accuse 19th-century Russia of genocidal actions and dissaprove of their use of the land to hold the Olympics and refusing to acknowledge the Circassian former presence in Sochi.
          The connotation of this arrest and these protests add even more controversy to the 2014 Sochi Olympics, if that were even possible. It seems that these Olympics are doomed to be overshadowed by Russia's political agenda instead of exhibiting great athletic displays, sadly. Nevertheless, it remains an important forum for human rights discussions and has allowed for the confrontation of many injustices. 

Original Article:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/16/world/europe/russia-arrest/index.html?sr=sharebar_twitter

         In Russia news, the Federal service Penitentiary system announced that it will setting up a business to place orders and sells for government agencies and product manufacturers. It will be a place were prison made goods are sold. This business will have  over 100, 000 products. The ranging of the products are uniforms to kitchenware and furniture. This would create profit for the prison system in Russia even though the Federal service Penitentiary would not disclose where the money would go. This plan is going to financed by the Sherbank.  This is does though take disadvantage of the prisoners who are forced to work long hours for practically nothing, This will take more disadvantage to the prisoners because their days will probably increase due to the demand going to be caused be creating this place of sell. In Russia, the prisoners are forced to work 17 hour days(Para 4). This number is already huge and if it gets extended there working hours will become just about full days. How's that for rehabilitation?



http://themoscownews.com/business/20140214/192228857/Russia-to-set-up-trading-house-for-products-made-in-jail.html