Paul McCartney sends support to Russian punks
LONDON (AP) - Paul McCartney has sent support to a Russian punk band whose members face prison for a stunt against President Vladimir Putin.
In a letter released Thursday, the former Beatle urged three members of all-female band Pussy Riot to "stay strong" and called on authorities to allow them freedom of speech.
McCartney said that "I and many others like me who believe in free speech will do everything in our power to support you and the idea of artistic freedom."
The band members have been in jail for more than five months because of an anti-Putin prank in Moscow's main cathedral, and face a maximum seven years in jail.
Celebrities including Madonna and Bjork have called for them to be freed.
A judge is due to rule on their case Friday.
In a letter released Thursday, the former Beatle urged three members of all-female band Pussy Riot to "stay strong" and called on authorities to allow them freedom of speech.
McCartney said that "I and many others like me who believe in free speech will do everything in our power to support you and the idea of artistic freedom."
The band members have been in jail for more than five months because of an anti-Putin prank in Moscow's main cathedral, and face a maximum seven years in jail.
Celebrities including Madonna and Bjork have called for them to be freed.
A judge is due to rule on their case Friday.
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what happened???On February 21, Five Pussy Rioteers took to the church's altar and performed a mock prayer, begging the Virgin Mary to chase Putin out of power. They lasted about 30 seconds before being removed by security guards.
Hmmm... Pussy Riot huh?
Okay, so what was the prank?
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Suddenly the lyrics to Lennon's John Sinclair comes to mind.
 @Zosohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALS92big4TY
THX! Okay, now I'm on board. 7 years? Really? Completely wrong!
 @Zoso I know!  Every busker down at Westlake would be facing the same thing if we had the same ridiculous rules.  Heck, what am I saying - you can kill someone here and not get 7 years.
Really komo? You won't even include what exactly the prank was? Lazy journalism.
 @Carl Fardman I just posted the video of it above under Zoso's comment.
 @Carl Fardman You mean the AP?
@Zoso @Carl Fardman No, KOMO... they made the choice to run the story again.
@Zoso Yep.
 @This_again? So? That doesn't mean they're responsible for the material submitted. By that logic, you'd have to say the same thing to every outlet that ran the story.