The Investigative Committee of Russia has begun a pre-investigation check of the posts of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova*, a member of the punk band Pussy Riot, for insulting the feelings of believers.
It is reported by RBC with reference to its sources.
In Tolokonnikova’s publications, the security forces saw actions that, according to law enforcement officers, could express “clear disrespect for society and committed in order to offend religious feelings” (Part 1 of Article 148 of the Criminal Code “Violation of the right to freedom of conscience and religion”). The maximum penalty under this article is up to 1 year in prison.
Znak.com reached out to Tolokonnikova for comment. At the time of publication, no response to the request had been received.
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova was previously convicted for “insulting religious feelings” in 2012. True, at that time there was no article about insulting the feelings of believers, and she, as well as two other members of the Pussy Riot group – Maria Alyokhina and Ekaterina Samutsevich – were convicted of hooliganism after their “punk-holiday” in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The girls sang the song “Mother of God, drive Putin away.” Then the court sentenced them to two years in prison. Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova served their terms in full, and Samutsevich’s sentence was replaced with a suspended sentence and released in the courtroom.
