Russia has
used the trial against three young women to set a precedent - despite global
outcry. The verdict is nothing short of a scandal that puts a strain on
German-Russian relations, says Bernd Johann.
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| Bernd Johann: Pussy Riot verdict is nothing short of a scandal |
Whoever
thought the Russian state was able to demonstrate any form of lenience or
clemency towards its opponents has been proven seriously wrong. The verdict
against the three women of the punk band "Pussy Riot" is not just a
harsh punishment that will affect the accused artists personally.
This trial
has been used to set a precedent: Anyone in Russia who chooses to publicly
speak out against the authoritarian Putin system, especially if it involves
breaching the law, is going to feel the full force of the establishment.
There's no
question about it. The public act of the punk activists at the Moscow Cathedral
of Christ the Savior in February was a scandal. Certainly it had the potential
for hurting people's religious beliefs. And certainly - according to German
legal standards, too - such action within a church could be prosecuted on the
basis of going against the freedom of practicing religion. Within that, the
freedom of expression and the freedom of religion each put limitations on the
other.
Show trial
in Moscow
But in a
case like this, genuine rule of law commands the weighing of both rights
against each other. This hasn't happened in Moscow. For the judge it was enough
to simply state that "this wasn't art, but hooliganism stemming from
religious hatred." The trial against the three women wasn't anything but a
show trial. They were in pre-trial custody for almost half a year. Shortly
after their public protest, they were ruthlessly separated from their families
and little children.
All this
despite the fact that the protest happened without any violence. No one was
actually hurt. There was no doubt about what had happened, and the women didn't
deny the charges. And that means it would have indeed been possible for the
court to show lenience and mark what had happened off as bad taste nonsense of
some young people.
Instead,
the women were treated like dangerous criminals. They had to endure the trial
handcuffed and locked up in a glass cage. The court gave little room for the
defense to make its case. The accused, too, were barely able to tell their side
of the story - and when they could, they focused on criticizing the Putin
government as a repressive regime. There was no sign of religious hatred - it
was clearly a political protest.
Politicians
and members of the clergy as prosecutors
As things
went, it turned out to be a bizarre trial - in the eyes of the world and those
of the Russian public. Three young women in the role of David, who - in the end
- couldn't do anything but lose against Goliath in the form of Putin's system.
Kremlin supporting politicians and representatives of the Russian Orthodox
Church surpassed each other in demanding draconian punishments - as if they themselves
were the prosecutors in this trial.
Even Putin
himself voiced his opinion in this matter. Without any political reticence he
expressed the expectations he had of the trial, and by doing so further
encouraged doubts about the independence of the court.
Dark omen
for Putin's new term
The verdict
becomes a dark omen for Putin's third term in office - a technocrat of power,
who only managed to reemerge as Russia's leader by tricking the constitution
itself. His first 100 days in office have clearly showed that there will be no
further political liberalization. During the past weeks, members of the
opposition have been browbeaten - also by exploiting the legal system. The
demonstration law has been drastically tightened, and NGOs have seen further
curtailing of their work.
These
developments, now including the verdict against the all-female punk band, are
going to put a strain on German-Russian relations. Rarely has there been such a
wave of protest against a trial in Russia - throughout all political ranks and
all parts of society. In bilateral discussions, the German side increasingly
asks the question whether a dialogue with Russia is at all possible when it
comes to civil rights and society.
After the
verdict against Pussy Riot, politicians in Berlin could find themselves forced
to reevaluate the traditionally close and positive relations Germany has with
Russia.
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