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Russia Stalls on Pussy Riot Appeal

After band member fires lawyers

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 1, 2012 7:02 AM CDT

(Newser) – The hearing set for today in the Pussy Riot case has been postponed until Oct. 10, CNN reports. The Russian court moved the hearing following a band member's announcement in court today that a disagreement had prompted her to fire her lawyers. Yekaterina Samutsevich said she'd found a new lawyer but hasn't signed a contract with the attorney, the AP reports. Prosecutors accused Samutsevich of seeking to delay the legal process.

The Russian Orthodox Church yesterday changed its tune on the case, calling for clemency for the political punk rockers if they're willing to repent. But their lawyers say there's no way the band members will acknowledge guilt, the BBC reports. If the church means "repentance in the sense of a crime... it definitely won't happen. Our clients won't admit guilt. A call for that is pointless," says one.

Pussy Riot members, from left, Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow, Russia on Monday Oct. 1, 2012.
Pussy Riot members, from left, Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow, Russia on Monday Oct. 1, 2012.   (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)
Pussy Riot members, from left, Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow, Russia on Monday Oct. 1, 2012.
Pussy Riot members, from left, Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow, Russia on Monday Oct. 1, 2012.   (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
1942
Oct 1, 2012 9:56 PM CDT
We need this band in our country.  Pussy!  What could be better than Pussy Riot.  They are very talented and chose a Riot of a name!  I wonder who's idea it was, but one hell of a name and saga that comes with it.
kawahchan
Oct 1, 2012 10:37 AM CDT
That's right "Pussy Riot" band, plead NOT guilty, GOD say you all are innocent, LOVE GOD is inside your heart; the corrupt, criminal Vladimir Putin government is guilty to against ALL fellow Russians and the Russian Orthodox church to betray the Conscience. GOD show a way to "Pussy Riot" bank to immigrate to live in the United States of America, if Russia exile the "Pussy Riot" out of Russia. 
 

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