Showing posts with label Maria Alyokhina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maria Alyokhina. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Alyokhina Denied Parole



Maria Alyokhina has refused further participation in the parole hearing at the Perm Regional Court, which she has been attending via videoconference from the remand center where she is being held, claiming that the proceedings are a travesty of justice and her rights are being fundamentally violated. As a sign of her non-participation, she turned her back to the camera. Her request for parole has now been denied by the court.


Thursday, July 18, 2013

Alyokhina 'Beaten by Guards'

Khodorkovsky Center reports that Maria Alyokhina has been beaten by guards in the remand center in Solikamsk where she is currently being held, for refusing to be transferred to another prison without access to documents. More details from RAPSI.

Update 1: In a statement to Novaya Gazeta, Alyokhina's lawyer Oksana Darova has denied that she saw her client being beaten.

Update 2: Alyokhina has written a letter to Novoye Vremya from the remand center in Solikamsk.

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Alyokhina ends hunger strike

Via Grani.ru:  Maria Alyokhina has ended her hunger strike, as the prison colony administration has met her demands.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Alyokhina continuing hunger strike

Via Ekho Moskvy:

"The situation in the colony is difficult. All the convicts who live or work beside me are on lock-up, which means they can't get medical help and exacerbates the situation. I'm now on the sixth day of my hunger strike, with the demand that the prison authorities stop putting pressure on me by means of the other convicts. The administration is ignoring the hunger strike. There is no word from the prosecutor's office and rights defenders of the region. I intend to continue the hunger strike, as I see no other way of inducing the administration to negotiate. Without any reasons being declared, I am deprived of all phone calls, but will take any opportunity to report on myself and my dear IK-28.

Masha Alyokhina
FKU IK-28
Perm Region

27.05.13"

"Ситуация в колонии тяжелая. Всех осужденных, которые живут или работают рядом со мной, закрывают на замок, что лишает их возможности получить медицинскую помощь и обостряет обстановку. Я голодаю на данный момент 6-е сутки с требованием прекратить оказывать давление на меня посредством других осужденных. Администрация голодовку игнорирует. Прокуратура и праврозащитники региона не дают о себе знать. Я намерена голодать дальше, так как другого способа побудить администрацию к переговорам я не вижу. Я лишена всех звонков без объявления причин, но по возможности буду сообщать о себе и дорогой мне ИК-28.

Маша Алехина
ФКУ ИК-28
Пермский край

27.05.13"

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Alyokhina Interview

Two months ago Fiona Cook interviewed Maria Alyokhina via webcam for Dazed magazine. In the interview Alyokhina talks about what she sees as the widespread misunderstanding of Pussy Riot's activities, and explains her  views on social protest and art. The link to the video is here:

http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/16204/1/video-pussy-riot-interviewed-in-prison

Alyokhina forced to accept defence lawyer

At the Berezniki City Court parole hearing today, Maria Alyokhina was forced to accept a defence lawyer to represent her against her will - but the lawyer, Evgeny Bardin, has said he cannot represent Alyokhina's interests without her consent, and without her participation in the hearing. In spite of this, Judge Shagalov has told him he must act for Alyokhina, and after a short recess the hearing has gone ahead, with the head of the unit inside the penal colony where Alyokhina is held outlining the breaches of prison discipline with which she is charged: these are 1) Not keeping her bed tidy 2) Not wearing a headscarf while using the sewing machine 3) Writing a letter during dinner.

The court is now in recess. A judgment on Alyokhina's parole is due to be given at 17.30.

Update: Grani.ru reports that parole has been denied.

This is the second day of Maria Alyokhina's hunger strike.


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Two Letters



To The Berezniki City Court, Perm Region,
Russian Federation


It has come to my notice that the Berezniki City Court of Perm Region is to consider a request for conditional early release in connection with Maria Vladimirovna Alyokhina, who is currently serving her sentence at the FKU IR-28 of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in the Perm Region.

I cannot justify the actions of those who took part in the demonstration in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, but I think that the further incarceration of Maria Alyokhina in a penal colony is harmful both for Alyokhina and for society as a whole, as it contributes to an atmosphere of intolerance and will  lead to a split and radicalization of society.

Regardless of Maria Alyokhina’s personal relation to the action, I see no legal foundation or practical sense in her further isolation from  the society to which she poses no real  danger.

The presence of Maria Alyokhina’s six year-old son, to whom every day of separation from his mother causes irreparable harm and suffering, is another strong argument in favor of Maria Alykhina’s early release.

I think there is a need to take note of the positive assessment of Alyokhina’s character given  by environmental organizations and the Orthodox Danilovtsy charity. They call her a kind and selfless person.

This leads one to hope that upon her release Maria Alyokhina will bring benefit to society - both as a caring mother and as a participant in ecological and charity work.

I am convinced of the need for Maria Alyokhina to be given parole, and I therefore ask the Berezniki City Court to show humanity and compassion for the fate of the imprisoned woman, her son and her family and I appeal to the court to grant her conditional early release.

Archpriest Alexey Anatolievich Uminsky
Dean of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Khokhly
Moscow, Khokhlovsky Pereulok 12

[my translation. DM]


Мне стало известно, что Березниковским городским судом Пермского края будет рассматриваться ходатайство об условно-досрочном освобождении в отношении осужденной Алехиной Марии Владимировны, которая в настоящее время отбывает наказание в ФКУ ИК-28 ГУФСИН России по Пермскому краю.

Я не могу оправдать действия участниц акции в Храме Христа Спасителя, но считаю, что дальнейшее отбывание Алехиной М.В. наказания в виде лишения свободы в исправительной колонии общего режима вредно как для Алехиной М.В., так и для общества в целом, поскольку способствует атмосфере нетерпимости и ведет к расколу и радикализации общества.
Вне зависимости от личного отношения к поступку Алехиной М.В., я не вижу законных оснований и практического смысла в ее дальнейшей изоляции от общества как не представляющей никакой реальной опасности.

Наличие у Алехиной М.В. 6-летнего сына, которому каждый день разлуки с матерью наносит непоправимый урон и страдания, является еще одним веским аргументом в пользу необходимости применения к Марии Алехиной условно-досрочного освобождения.
Я считаю необходимым принять к сведению положительные характеристики, данные Алехиной природоохранными организациями и православным благотворительным движением "Даниловцы". Ее называют добросердечным и самоотверженным человеком. Это позволяет надеяться на то, что, выйдя на свободу, Мария Алехина будет приносить пользу обществу - и как заботливая мать, и как участник экологической и благотворительной деятельности.

Я убежден в необходимости условно-досрочного освобождения Марии Алехиной, в связи с чем прошу Березниковский городской суд проявить гуманизм и сострадание к судьбе лишенного свободы человека, ее сына и близких и ходатайствую перед судом о применении к осужденной Алехиной М.В. условно-досрочного освобождения.

Протоиерей Алексей Анатольевич Уминский
настоятель Храма Святой Живоначальной Троицы в Хохлах
Москва, Хохловский переулок 12

__________________________________

To The Berezniki City Court, Perm Region,
Russian Federation

Monday 13th May 2013

Re: Maria Alyokhina

I am writing with regard to the release on parole petition of Maria Alyokhina now serving her sentence at the FKU IK-28 of the city of Berezniki, Pem Region, Russian Federation. 

I believe that further imprisonment of Maria Alyokhina is harmful both for her and for all those who are following her situation. To keep her incarcerated will help to divide society even further. 

Maria is a positive, generous person committed to making the world a better place in part through protest art, feminist ideals and the protection of the environment. She has also assisted social activists and worked hard to defend the rights and freedoms of individuals. 

Many people all over the world are watching what happens to Maria, and I ask you please to consider treating her with compassion, and justice is seen to be done. 

Thank you for considering this request.

Peter Gabriel 

http://grani.ru/Politics/Russia/Politzeki/m.214875.html#gabriel

Update: Paul McCartney has written letters to Russian officials in support of Pussy Riot.



Alyokhina declares hunger strike


BEREZNIKI (Perm Territory), May 22 (RAPSI) - Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina has gone on a hunger strike after The Berezniki City Court in the Perm Territory denied her access to the hearing of her parole appeal.
Alyokhina takes part in the proceedings via videoconference. After being denied transportation to the courthouse, she refused to continue the conference and barred her defense team from representing her interests. Immediately after that court postponed the hearings until Thursday.

Alyokhina denied access to parole hearing

Via RAPSI:
11:11 22/05/2013
BEREZNIKI (Perm Territory), May 22 (RAPSI) - The Berezniki City Court in the Perm Territory has denied Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina's request to attend the hearing of her appeal for parole, RIA Novosti reports on Wednesday.
In response to this decision, Alyokhina has filed for the judge [NB should be "prosecutor" DM] [to] be replaced.
http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20130522/267499313 .html

====================

Alyokhina's plea for the prosecutor to be replaced was refused.

Radio Svoboda has a live video feed from the courtroom on this page:

http://www.svoboda.org/contentlive/liveblog/24992917.html

RS reports that Alyokhina has declared a hunger strike, and because of many procedural irregularities she and her lawyers have ceased cooperation with the court.

The hearing is adjourned until 10 am tomorrow, May 23.

Gruppa voina says that Alyokhina will end her hunger strike if the court allows her to take part in the hearing.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Alyokhina prepared to hunger strike


Via RAPSI:
Sentenced Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina is prepared to go on a hunger strike if she is not allowed to present in person at a hearing appealing for her release on parole, her associate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova said Thursday on Facebook.
The hearing is set for May 22 at the Berezniki City Court in the Perm Territory, which is trying to deprive Alyokhina of her right to present, the post reads. An application against the efforts to keep Alyokhina in prison that day has been filed with the judicial and penitentiary authorities.