MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian presidential human rights council is questioning the guilty verdict and twoyear prison sentences against three members of punk provocateurs Pussy Riot.
The council said in a statement late Tuesday that “criminal law was used to deal with actions which entail administrative liability only” in the case. Members also questioned why the court did not impose suspended sentences on two of the three women who have small children.
Council members expressed dismay over a decision to keep Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich handcuffed in a bullet-proof glass cage during the hearing of the verdict.
“We are confident that the civil society has the right to demand that Russian justice be governed by the truth and mercy,” the council said.
The council is an independent advisory body appointed by the president and its recommendations are not binding. All of its members were appointed under former President Dmitry Medvedev.
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