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Judge Requests Reporting Limits in Pussy Riot Trial

© RIA Novosti . Alexey Filippov / Go to the mediabankPussy Riot
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Moscow’s Khamovniki Court requested journalists refrain from reporting verbatim witness testimony from the courtroom in the trial of all-female punk band Pussy Riot, court press secretary Daria Lyakh said on Wednesday.

Moscow’s Khamovniki Court requested journalists refrain from reporting verbatim witness testimony from the courtroom in the trial of all-female punk band Pussy Riot, court press secretary Daria Lyakh said on Wednesday.

“From now on it is prohibited to disclose in online reports the details of the case which witnesses mention in their testimonies,” Lyakh said.

Under the Russian code of criminal procedure, direct quotation of witnesses testimony is forbidden in the course of a trial in order that further witness testimony is not affected by previous statements.

After all of the witnesses in this trial have testified, journalists will be allowed to publish all of what has been said in reported speech, the head of Moscow City Court Press Service Marina Usachova said. “The testimonies are not classified,” she said.

Three Pussy Riot members - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, - are on trial in Moscow over their alleged performance of a “punk prayer,” calling for then-Prime Minister and United Russia head Vladimir Putin to quit, carried out in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral earlier this year. They face up to seven years if convicted on hooliganism charges.

During the hearings on Wednesday, all of the three women felt sick and ambulances were called several times, their lawyer Nikolai Polozov said.

One of the accused was given an injection for her low blood-sugar levels and doctors later said the trial could resume.

Earlier, Pussy Riot members have complained over health problems and lack of sleep due to late-night hearings related to the case.

On Wednesday, Moscow City Court dismissed appeals filed by Pussy Riot members over a court decision to restrict the time they have to study the case materials.

Members of Pussy Riot have called their “punk prayer” at the Cathedral an “ethical mistake,” but pleaded not guilty to charges of hooliganism.

Amnesty International has recognized the three group members held in custody as prisoners of conscience. A number of prominent Western musicians, including Sting, Franz Ferdinand and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, have spoken in their support.

 

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