Bogurodzico, przegoń Putina. Pussy Riot - feministki kontra autorytaryzm w Rosji
Mother of God, Banish Putin. Feminists Against Authoritarianism in Russia

Summary/Abstract: The events that took place in Russia at the end of 2011 – therigged parliamentary elections and the nomination of Vladimir Putinas presidential candidate, his return to the Kremlin after four years, caused numerous protests on a previously unknown scale. According tovarious estimates, tens of thousands of dissatisfied citizens took to thestreets of Moscow. They were led by Alexei Navalny and Boris Nemtsov,who was later murdered in 2015. The public support of the authoritiesand the condemnation of the protesters by Patriarch Cyril – the headof the Russian Orthodox Church, was met with a reaction from a nowoutraged society. On February, 21 2012, the famous feminist group PussyRiot, staged a performance in the building of the Council of Christ theSaviour in Moscow. The performance was to be a form of protest againstthe informal alliance of „the throne and the altar”. This informal alliancehas been present in Russia for many years, it obliges both sides to mutualsupport, especially in times of crisis. The trial of the three members ofthe Pussy Riot group – Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Ekaterina Samucevichand Maria Alokhina was strictly political, despite strict efforts of judgesand prosecutors to change its character. Under the pretence of offendingreligious feelings, a political lynch was carried out against the threewomen. The real reason for such harsh actions, was disobedience againstthe head of the Russian state and standing in opposition to the authoritarianform of government. The phoney trial was treated as a warningto the system’s opponents, for them to think twice before undertakingany actions against the state authorities. Pussy Riot’s performance andits consequences have provoked many questions about the condition ofthe rule of law in Russia and the durability of Vladimir Putin’s regime.The article describes the earlier activities of Pussy Riot, background ofthe events preceding performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior,a trial and the world’s response to the verdict. The research area durabilityand stability of political system in Russia during the presidencyof Vladimir Putin and what it guarantees. The main hypothesis is theassumption that any manifestation or insubordination to the existingorder in Russia is treated as an affront, and every person undertakingsuch action must be severely punished and stigmatized. The researchmethod used in the article is an analysis of written sources.

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