THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — One of the Both members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot were freed Monday according to wire reports. Both members of the band were in prison for protesting against the Putin government during a performance at Moscow’s main cathedral. Band member Maria Alyokhina was released under a new amnesty law.

The New York Times is saying the other band member, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, is expected to be released shortly as well. (Both band members have been released according to wire reports.) The duo was serving a 2-year sentence.

The new amnesty law supposedly will allow Putin to release of the ‘political’ prisoners, including some Greenpeace activists.

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UPDATE Dec. 23, 2013: The BBC twitter feed says Nadezhda Tolokonnikova’s release is expected ‘within hours.’  https://plus.google.com/+BBCNews/posts/MQGkxzL7wJF

UPDATE Dec. 23, 2013:  From Voice of America:

“Pussy Riot Member: Release Is PR Stunt

A member of Russian punk band Pussy Riot who was released from prison Monday denounced her release within hours.

Maria Alyokhina told Russia’s Dozhd television that she would have preferred to remain in prison. She said her release was not “a humanitarian act,” describing it instead as a public relations stunt.”

http://www.voanews.com/content/pussy-riot-member–release-is-pr-stunt/1815679.html

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It’s not clear how this new “amnesty law” affects trans and LGBT people, but I’d say we are only seeing the Russian government lightening up a bit in advance of the Olympics. I’m withholding final judgement until the Olympics are over and see how they play their hand.

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Categories: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans

Tags: amnesty law, Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, olympics, pussy riot, Putin, Russia