The increasingly repressive regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin has its latest victims: three women punk rockers from the band [ahem] Pussy Riot. The three (Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich) went on trial today charged with "hooliganism" for a brief performance inside the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. During the performance, which was meant to highlight the close ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Putin regime, the three sang "Throw Putin out." The women could face 7 years in prison for what would be at most a misdemeanor (trespass?) in most civilized countries.
Putin promised to bring a "managed democracy" to Russia. Time is proving that the only thing that's being managed is the destruction of freedom and civil liberties.
