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Pussy Riot member in solitary confinement after hunger strike pledge Pussy Riot member in solitary confinement after hunger strike pledge
(about 2 hours later)
A jailed member of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot has been moved to solitary confinement, just a day after she announced a hunger strike in protest at Gulag-style prison conditions. A jailed member of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot has been moved to solitary confinement the day after she announced a hunger strike in protest at gulag-style prison conditions.
Prison authorities said they were moving 23-year-old Nadezhda Tolokonnikova not as a punishment but for her own safety, after she complained of death threats from prison authorities. Tolokonnikova is serving a two-year sentence for hooliganism motivated by political hatred for her part in an impromptu "punk prayer" in Moscow's main cathedral in February last year. Prison authorities said they were moving 23-year-old Nadezhda Tolokonnikova for her own safety – not as a punishment – after she complained of death threats. Tolokonnikova is serving two years for hooliganism motivated by political hatred for her part in an impromptu "punk prayer" in Moscow's main cathedral in February last year.
The long letter she wrote detailed conditions of "slave-like labour", with inmates forced to work 17 hours a day with almost no days off, and punishments including being forced to stand in the cold or being forbidden to use the toilet. The long letter she wrote detailed conditions of "slave-like labour", with prisoners forced to work 17 hours a day with almost no days off, and punishments including being forced to stand in the cold or being forbidden to use the toilet.
Yuri Kupriyanov, the deputy head of the prison, whom Tolokonnikova accused of threatening her with death at the hands of other inmates, in turn accused Tolokonnikova's lawyer and husband of blackmail. Kupriyanov claims they threatened to publish the letter if he did not move the inmate to the "artistic" work division, rather than the sewing workshop in which she is currently forced to work. The authorities of the prison, in the region of Mordovia, have denied all Tolokonnikova's accusations about the grim conditions that she and other women face. However, they have agreed to launch an internal investigation. Yuri Kupriyanov, deputy head of the prison, in turn accused Tolokonnikova's lawyer and husband of blackmail. Kupriyanov claims they threatened to publish the letter if he did not move her to the "artistic" work division, rather than the sewing workshop in which she is currently forced to work. The authorities of the prison, in the region of Mordovia, have denied all Tolokonnikova's accusations about the grim conditions that she and other women face but have launched an internal investigation.
President Vladimir Putin's human rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin, said he had dispatched two representatives to the prison to investigate Tolokonnikova's complaints. "As soon as we get a report of their work, I will be able to give my opinion of what actually happened; about who is right and who is guilty," Lukin said on Tuesday.President Vladimir Putin's human rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin, said he had dispatched two representatives to the prison to investigate Tolokonnikova's complaints. "As soon as we get a report of their work, I will be able to give my opinion of what actually happened; about who is right and who is guilty," Lukin said on Tuesday.
There were words of support for Tolokonnikova from another Russian prisoner, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, formerly the country's richest man, but in jail since 2003 on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion. During his time in prison he has written extensively on life behind bars and is seen by some as a potential political figure on his release.There were words of support for Tolokonnikova from another Russian prisoner, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, formerly the country's richest man, but in jail since 2003 on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion. During his time in prison he has written extensively on life behind bars and is seen by some as a potential political figure on his release.
Khodorkovsky said he had been impressed by the cultural and intellectual content of the women's speeches to the court during their trial, and said that they gave him hope that there was a bright future ahead for Russia.Khodorkovsky said he had been impressed by the cultural and intellectual content of the women's speeches to the court during their trial, and said that they gave him hope that there was a bright future ahead for Russia.
"Half a year, or even less, seems like an eternity for now, but believe me, it will pass in a flash," writes Khodorkovsky. "I wish you all the best and I very much hope that, on leaving prison wiser, you will also take with you the desire to develop our civil society, and help people to feel like they are indeed people and citizens.""Half a year, or even less, seems like an eternity for now, but believe me, it will pass in a flash," writes Khodorkovsky. "I wish you all the best and I very much hope that, on leaving prison wiser, you will also take with you the desire to develop our civil society, and help people to feel like they are indeed people and citizens."
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