No Laughing Matter

Russian prosecutors are apparently demanding a three year prison sentence for three young women - all members of the punk band 'Pussy Riot' - for singing a protest song about Russian president (Vladimir Putin) in a Moscow church.

Now this is is no laughing matter for the three young people involved who are actually banged up in prison now awaiting their case to come to a full trial in January 2013 - but the whole episode is making a laughing stock out of Russian justice and its action man president. 

The fact that people can be held on remand for such a long time and for such a minor offence is ridiculous enough - but the prospect of spending three years in jail simply for engaging in a peaceful political protest - is an insult to people's intelligence.

So I hope the campaign to free the members of Pussy Riot takes off in a big way - and blows up in the Vladimir Putin's face.

Because if he had any sense and cared for the long-term future of Russia - he would step in and say that  freedom of speech and peaceful protest are basic rights that ought to be guaranteed - in any modern, civilised and enterprising country.

Whereas at the moment Russia is going backwards to the bad old days of ruthlessly crushing dissent - when people where sent to the salt mines just for stepping out of line.