It's no secret that in the past, a history of denying a certain amount of free speech that could unsettle the running of Russia and the rule of it's government has existed over the years, particularly during Putin's rule and it seems that the world has finally fully opened their eyes to this fact. I probably wouldn't manage to fully justify his tyranny in explaining this past actions, however one of the most shocking stories regarding the control of free speech in Russia in recent times is a fairly famous one that you may or may not know. I was only discovered it after being casually told about in a History class in 4th year at school. But it comes from the aftermath of the horrific explosion of the submarine Kursk when it sank into the Barents Sea in October 2000 and a leak of hydrogen peroxide in a torpedo led to an explosion of fuel, which then triggered the explosion of further warhead torpedoes. The Russian government were already being slammed due to their refusal to allow British and Norwegian rescue teams to intervene and for trying to downplay the situation by claiming the submarine went through "minor technical difficulties" and that bad weather stopped any rescue attempts from being made, but it's the measures taken when some panic was created by the situation that really just took the piss out of the sheer extent to which they wished to keep people quiet. On 18th August, during a news briefing about the fate of the Kursk, Nadezhda Tylik, the mother of Kursk submariner Lt. Sergei Tylik, produced an hysterical outburst of emotion. Several attempts were made to keep her quiet as the Putin continued to try and downplay the situation. After failing to keep her quiet, a nurse walked up to her, putting her arm around her in a friendly manner, in a way to show support and to try and clam her down. Shortly after this Tylik passed out. The event, captured on film had in fact revealed that the nurse was holding a needle filled with a sedative and has injected it into Tylik's neck. on behalf of Russia's government, it served as an act of fear on their behalf, and being unable to deal with people that spoke their mind with force and passion and only using their powers to keep them quiet. This situation with Pussy Riot is the exact same. The band members were locked up for passionately stating their own beliefs that the Russian Government could not create any response to so, best to throw them in jail! Now, if only I could say that the UK and USA were exempt from this. This section didn't have a lot to do with music at all. Go and listen to Travel is Dangerous by Mogwai. The entire song was inspired by Kursk.
I have to say, now that the band are such a major news case, it's impossible to find any music recorded by Pussy Riot and it seems they only formed at the start of last year and specialize in making their shows improvised, which is a shame because a campaign to get a single or album to top the charts would be a seriously great cause. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. However, the response from more popular names in music in support of them is phenomenal. Whether it's in the form of vocal support from Madonna, a Pussy Riot T-Shirt being worn by Anthony Kiedis during a Red Hot Chili Peppers show in Moscow, or the Punk Prayer that was performed at the Cathedral being covered by Anti-Flag, it's clear that this is not a topic being ignored by the world of music. Obviously, many metal fans have just come out of a state of rage against foreign authority with the support for and demand for freedom of Randy Blythe, but the case of Pussy Riot is a completely different subject. Certainly no one's died in this situation and this is an equally important cause to get riled up about if you thought the authorities of the Czech Republic were unjustified towards the Lamb of God frontman.
That's all I can really think to say on the issue. Three woman have been arrested for standing up for what they believe in and with the odd exception, that's something we would never see in the UK. And if you are from the UK and believe that the woman's action did justify the "hooliganism" sentence they've received, do try and remember that we've had much worse acts take place here and that there weren't nearly enough arrests from the London Riots of last year and those things were mindless. Perhaps in time, Pussy Riot will become inspirational figures. Certainly, if they ever make an album following the release of Alyokhina, Tolokonnikova and Samutsevich, it is guaranteed to be killer. Along with this, in questioning authority they've been a vital display of what punk is truly about, which is seen clearest in a worldwide disapproval towards Putin. Maybe because I'm all young and left wing, I'm opposed to Putin's ability to get away with screwing with people's freedom of speech while residents of Russia look at matters outside of this with much positivity but Pussy Riot have made a huge mark in the fight for a more democratic, fairer Russia that identifies the right to freedom of speech and maybe their actions will inspire millions of people to stand up for their causes, no matter how small they may be, no matter what kind of challenges face you. The photo taken of Tolokonnikova and her triumphant pose really illustrates this ideal. I'm done with being political for now. I should keep it cool and talk 'bout some riffs and stuff.
