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| Vladimir Putin reacts angrily to Angela Merkel's Pussy Riot comments | Vladimir Putin reacts angrily to Angela Merkel's Pussy Riot comments |
| (10 days later) | |
| Vladimir Putin reacted angrily to the German chancellor Angela Merkel's questioning of the two-year jail sentence for the anti-Kremlin punk band Pussy Riot on Friday, telling her that a member the group had once committed an anti-Semitic act. | Vladimir Putin reacted angrily to the German chancellor Angela Merkel's questioning of the two-year jail sentence for the anti-Kremlin punk band Pussy Riot on Friday, telling her that a member the group had once committed an anti-Semitic act. |
| Speaking about the band's performance in a Moscow cathedral, Merkel said the protest would have "generated a debate about whether that should go on in a church, no question". | Speaking about the band's performance in a Moscow cathedral, Merkel said the protest would have "generated a debate about whether that should go on in a church, no question". |
| But during public talks with the Russian president before the two retreated for closed-door talks she questioned the sentences they received. "Should you really have to spend two years in a labour camp for it, I don't know. In any case that would not have happened in Germany." | But during public talks with the Russian president before the two retreated for closed-door talks she questioned the sentences they received. "Should you really have to spend two years in a labour camp for it, I don't know. In any case that would not have happened in Germany." |
| Putin retorted sharply by saying: "We hear what our partners say. But do they, being so far away, hear about what's going on?" | Putin retorted sharply by saying: "We hear what our partners say. But do they, being so far away, hear about what's going on?" |
| "Mrs Chancellor spoke about the girls jailed for their performance in a church. Does she know that one of them had hanged a Jew in effigy and said that Moscow should be rid of such people?" Putin asked. "Neither we, nor you, can support people who assume an anti-Semitic position," said Putin, who served as a KGB agent in East Germany in the 1980s. "I ask you to keep that in mind." | "Mrs Chancellor spoke about the girls jailed for their performance in a church. Does she know that one of them had hanged a Jew in effigy and said that Moscow should be rid of such people?" Putin asked. "Neither we, nor you, can support people who assume an anti-Semitic position," said Putin, who served as a KGB agent in East Germany in the 1980s. "I ask you to keep that in mind." |
| Putin has repeatedly supported the sentence against Pussy Riot. Three of the band's members – Maria Alyokhina, Nadia Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich – were sentenced to two years in prison in August for singing an anti-Putin "punk prayer" inside a Moscow cathedral. Samutsevich was later given a suspended sentence and released. | Putin has repeatedly supported the sentence against Pussy Riot. Three of the band's members – Maria Alyokhina, Nadia Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich – were sentenced to two years in prison in August for singing an anti-Putin "punk prayer" inside a Moscow cathedral. Samutsevich was later given a suspended sentence and released. |
| The Russian president appeared to be referring to a September 2008 performance by the radical art group Voina, of which Tolokonnikova and Samutsevich were once a part. The group staged a mock hanging of five men in a Moscow supermarket as commentary on the city's repressive social policies. | The Russian president appeared to be referring to a September 2008 performance by the radical art group Voina, of which Tolokonnikova and Samutsevich were once a part. The group staged a mock hanging of five men in a Moscow supermarket as commentary on the city's repressive social policies. |
| "In the light of day, in the lighting department, three migrant workers and two homosexuals, one of whom was also a Jew, were killed by hanging," a description of the performance reads. Moscow has been criticised for failing to protect its many migrant workers from ex-Soviet states, who face regular violence, and has banned gay pride parades for 100 years. Video of the performance shows Tolokonnikova and Samutsevich in the group. | "In the light of day, in the lighting department, three migrant workers and two homosexuals, one of whom was also a Jew, were killed by hanging," a description of the performance reads. Moscow has been criticised for failing to protect its many migrant workers from ex-Soviet states, who face regular violence, and has banned gay pride parades for 100 years. Video of the performance shows Tolokonnikova and Samutsevich in the group. |
| Merkel is the first western leader to visit Putin since his contentious return to the presidency earlier this year. The Russian leader's reputation has plummeted abroad amid a growing crackdown on opposition groups. | Merkel is the first western leader to visit Putin since his contentious return to the presidency earlier this year. The Russian leader's reputation has plummeted abroad amid a growing crackdown on opposition groups. |
| The German parliament has urged Merkel to take a tougher stance with Russia. Speaking to the press following talks with Putin, Merkel said she had raised concerns over a series of new laws. Critics have called out new harsh laws on treason, nongovernmental organisations and the internet. | The German parliament has urged Merkel to take a tougher stance with Russia. Speaking to the press following talks with Putin, Merkel said she had raised concerns over a series of new laws. Critics have called out new harsh laws on treason, nongovernmental organisations and the internet. |
| Merkel and Putin have long had a contentious relationship, unlike Putin's chummy ties with former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who joined Nord Stream, a Gazprom-led pipeline project, upon leaving office in 2005. | Merkel and Putin have long had a contentious relationship, unlike Putin's chummy ties with former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who joined Nord Stream, a Gazprom-led pipeline project, upon leaving office in 2005. |
| Merkel appeared to urge Putin to take criticism more lightly: "If I were offended every time I was criticised, I wouldn't last three days as chancellor". | Merkel appeared to urge Putin to take criticism more lightly: "If I were offended every time I was criticised, I wouldn't last three days as chancellor". |
| • This article was amended on 19 November 2012 to correct a quote from Angela Merkel about the sentencing of Pussy Riot members. | • This article was amended on 19 November 2012 to correct a quote from Angela Merkel about the sentencing of Pussy Riot members. |
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