[incimisiche]

Also from Russia: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19293465

Gay parades banned in Moscow for 100 years

Moscow's top court has upheld a ban on gay pride marches in the Russian capital for the next 100 years.

[hoconnor6605]

Isn't Serb a Stalinist? Of course he's opposed to other people's freedom of speech

[Jalieteplalry]

A ticket for mischief would have been appropriate.

2 years jail time is obscene.

[SimSlim]

Sorry, didn't see this, guess I'm blind. Now I know what both our Russians think...attempting to set aside my biases in favor of the Orthodox Church and against no-class hippie performance-art protesters, a month would've been far better. I would normally suggest a simple fine, but their level of Western support suggests that any fine would be paid, and then some, by somebody like Madonna. Community service would be the ideal punishment, come to think of it--does Russia do that?

[Lillie_Steins]

Well, since they are not American, they don't have freedom of speech. Thus, they should be punished for this. I suppose, how much depends on the values of their country.

[oB8LI2kP]

If they were issued a fine (or other appropriate reprimand) Madonna would never have heard of it.

Not necessarily. One of the groups previous stunts involved an orgie in a museum - I believe Madonna has that trademarked.

Originally Posted by Elok

I would normally suggest a simple fine, but their level of Western support suggests that any fine would be paid, and then some, by somebody like Madonna. ...and this time they prayed to Madonna.

[Drugmachine]

More Russian Freedom -
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wor...166684216.html

MOSCOW - Some Russian activists have sued Madonna for millions of dollars, claiming they were offended by her support for gay rights during a recent concert in St. Petersburg.

Anti-gay sentiment is strong in Russia. In St. Petersburg, a law passed in February makes it illegal to promote homosexuality to minors, and the author of that law has pointed to the presence of children as young as 12 at Madonna's concert on Aug. 9.

Russian news agencies quote Alexander Pochuyev, a lawyer representing the nine activists, as saying the suit was filed Friday against Madonna, the organizer of her concert, and the hall where it was held, asking for damages totalling 333 million rubles, or nearly $10.5 million.

Responding to criticism that the plaintiffs were stuck in the Middle Ages, the lawyer said they were using civilized, modern methods to defend their rights. "No one is burning anyone at the stake or carrying out an Inquisition," Pochuyev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying. "Modern civilization requires tolerance and respect for different values."

The complaint includes a video taken at the concert showing Madonna stomping on an Orthodox cross and asking fans to raise their hands to show the pink armbands in support of gays and lesbians that were distributed among the audience, the new agency reported.

Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, did not immediately respond to emails asking for the singer's reaction to the lawsuit.... Another funny bit about the P*ssy Riot case - the offended senior cleric, Putin's favourite, has had a few controversies of his own, including owning a $25,000 watch (he has taken a vow of poverty) & winning a $350,000 law suit against a cancer patient.

[InvertPrete]

Yes, we do have community service, and no, your source in your other thread has it wrong: there was no service so they couldn't've interrupted it and there are no expletives in the song "Theotokos, deliver us from Putin".
I personally am fine with community service as the best fitting punishment, but I guess the subject of the song didn't like it.

The accounts actually weren't clear about the precise circumstances; I sort of assumed there was a service or there wouldn't have been anyone to notice. Were they putting on a show for tourists? I guess it doesn't matter. As for the expletives, I've read that the lyrics include "****, ****, holy ****" or something like that--a sort of parody of the trisagion, I guess--and "You believe in Putin; ***** (suka), better believe in God." Are those complete fabrications, or are the words used not considered profane in Russian? Like I said, the accounts are hazy and often contradictory.

[Grieryaliny]

More Russian Freedom -
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wor...166684216.html

IIRC during the concert Magonna stomped on an Orthodox cross. How would we feel about this law suit if for example she had trammeled a Menorah?

[SpeavaJap]

The accounts actually weren't clear about the precise circumstances; I sort of assumed there was a service or there wouldn't have been anyone to notice. Were they putting on a show for tourists? I guess it doesn't matter. As for the expletives, I've read that the lyrics include "****, ****, holy ****" or something like that--a sort of parody of the trisagion, I guess--and "You believe in Putin; ***** (suka), better believe in God." Are those complete fabrications, or are the words used not considered profane in Russian? Like I said, the accounts are hazy and often contradictory.

Now that you've mentioned it, these are actually mild expletives. The first one is not a parody of trisagion, the word is repeated several times to fit the rhythm (holy, holy, holy sh!t). The other one is correct, except they are not addressing the listener, they're talking about the patriarch (the one with the reverse vampiric watch).
Actually, they didn't sing this in the church, as they got kicked out real fast.

[Jadldqys]

Onodera, can you say anything about a claim I have read in a danish newspaper : They only mimed in the church and music+song was added later.

Do you think there are readily available electric sockets in Orthodox churches for people to plug their electric guitars in? Of course the music and the song were recorded separately. They might've tried to sing *something* in the church, though.

[egexgfczc]

The cathedral in question was destroyed by the Communists ages ago, and recently rebuilt using tons of donations. I guess they felt including electric sockets would be unfaithful to the original? Dunno. My church building has electric sockets, but then it was built for some kind of Protestant sect in the early 1900s or thereabouts. Anyway, from the sound of it they didn't have time to set up an amp whether there were sockets available or not.

Also, Madonna would NEVER stomp on a Menorah. She's totally into Judaism and the Kabbalah and stuff. Especially the parts she thinks are about the clitoris.

[JohnfAclambrJA]

IIRC during the concert Magonna stomped on an Orthodox cross. How would we feel about this law suit if for example she had trammeled a Menorah?

Exactly the same?