new york concert defies putin on eve of sochi
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Performance highlighted Russia-US tensions

New York concert defies Putin on eve of Sochi

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice New York concert defies Putin on eve of Sochi

Madonna (L) introduces Maria Alyokhina (C) and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova
New York - Arab Today

Madonna (L) introduces Maria Alyokhina (C) and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova Feted by Madonna and cheered by thousands, Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot defied President Vladimir Putin on the eve of the Sochi Olympics at a star-studded New York concert. The performance highlighted soaring tensions between Russia and the United States, which drastically deteriorated when Moscow granted asylum to US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden last year.
US pop icon Madonna hailed the courage and fearlessness of punk heroines Maria Alyokhina, 25, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 24, who were released from Russian penal colonies last December.
Madonna said she was threatened with death after supporting them at a concert in Moscow during their trial in August 2012 and accused by Russian authorities of propagating homosexual behavior.
"It's time for the rest of the world to be as brave as Pussy Riot and to stand up against people like President Putin and other leaders and other organizations that do not respect human rights and perpetuate discrimination and injustice," Madonna said.
"It is my privilege and my honor, ladies and gentlemen, to introduce Masha and Nadya from Pussy Riot," she shouted over cat calls as the ecstatic Barclays Center in Brooklyn went wild.
"Can we get a 'hell yeah,'" she bellowed, dressed in a black woolly hat and long black coat, before embracing the two women on stage.
'We will not forgive'
Wearing black blazers, ankle boots and white tunics with black crucifixes emblazoned on the front, Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova delivered a furious and emotional rebuke of Putin's rule.
"We will not forgive and we will not forget what the regime is doing to our fellow citizens. We demand a Russia that is free," Tolokonnikova told the crowd.
"Now Russia will be free," the pair chanted, thanking Madonna and saying they were "overjoyed" by her support.
The duo were sentenced to 21 months in jail for hooliganism after performing a stunt inside a Moscow cathedral.
Although the stunt was unpopular among ordinary Russians, their trial and sentence turned them into dissident stars in the West.
The New York gesture was not welcomed, however, by other members of Pussy Riot -- a loose feminist collective -- still in Russia, and opposed to the concert tactic.
A letter signed under pseudonyms by six women presenting themselves as members said Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova should no longer be considered part of the group.
The letter complained that selling concert tickets contradicts the principles of Pussy Riot.
"We're a female separatist collective," it said. "We never accept money for our performances ... we only stage illegal performances in unexpected public places."
Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova were released two months early in December as part of a pre-Sochi amnesty. But they have vowed no let up in their campaign against Putin's crackdown on civil liberties.
Pop, rock solidarity
Organized by Amnesty International, Wednesday's concert whipped up a crowd of thousands crammed into one of New York's largest music and sporting venues with a maximum capacity of 18,000.
Blondie, fronted by a still electric Debbie Harry, brought the house down with their hits "Call Me" and "One Way or Another".
US pop and rock bands Imagine Dragons, who also paid tribute to Pussy Riot, Flaming Lips, Cake, the Fray and Cold War Kids fired up the crowd who danced and cheered form their seats.
Grammy-winning American soul singer Lauryn Hill, who spent three months in a US prison last year for failing to file her tax returns, also performed a set to wild cheers from loyal fans.
The Sochi Winter Olympics have opened up a new front of distrust between the United States and Russia, and tensions over security preparations amid fears the games could be attacked by extremists.
They are the first Olympics held in Russia since the US boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and may issues still divide the countries.
Relations reached a nadir last summer after Moscow gave asylum to Snowden and President Barack Obama scrapped a planned visit.
Moscow also reacted angrily to US charges in December against 49 current and former Russian diplomats and their wives for fraud.
Amnesty says that Pussy Riot represents a young generation of Russians standing up to repressive laws introduced under Putin.
Source: AFP

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

new york concert defies putin on eve of sochi new york concert defies putin on eve of sochi

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

new york concert defies putin on eve of sochi new york concert defies putin on eve of sochi

 



GMT 07:41 2011 Sunday ,14 August

Manchester United boss backs new generation

GMT 10:49 2013 Friday ,20 September

Apple buyers rue high price of new low cost iPhone

GMT 00:13 2017 Friday ,16 June

'Banker takes bribe to buy 'unwanted' shares'

GMT 21:47 2017 Saturday ,06 May

Emir Sends Cable of Condolences

GMT 13:26 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

SAGITTARIUS (November23rd-December21st)

GMT 22:39 2017 Monday ,20 November

NIHR welcomes UNICEF partnership

GMT 07:54 2017 Monday ,30 October

Young Muslims to drive $300 billion

GMT 06:15 2017 Saturday ,23 December

Tehran judiciary nixes hopes of swift release

GMT 14:57 2017 Wednesday ,22 November

Israel probes president's photo in Palestinian scarf

GMT 08:40 2017 Thursday ,02 March

Oculus looks to spur VR spread

GMT 23:31 2017 Saturday ,20 May

Syrian mother panic over son

GMT 12:29 2017 Wednesday ,08 March

Itsu launches into frozen food market
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice