Nearly two years after a performance that got them thrown into Russian prisons, two members of the band Pussy Riot sure didn't take long to renew their criticisms of the government and President Vladimir Putin.
The women spoke with reporters after their release Monday. They immediately denounced their releases as PR stunts by Putin ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi. (Via Twitter/@YourAnonNews)
MARIA ALEKHINA (in Russian): "Yes, I was keen to reject this amnesty, but the prison had received an order. That's why I was brought here. Now I would like to meet human rights activists." (Via The Guardian)
Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were released just hours apart from separate prisons.
They and a third band member were arrested and convicted of hooliganism in early 2012 for a short, profanity-laced performance inside a Moscow cathedral. Their song criticized the Russian Orthodox Church's support of Putin. (Via RT)
The third member imprisoned was released last year. Reporters anticipating Tolokonnikova's release say she yelled, "Russia without Putin," as she walked out of the prison. (Via The Guardian)
Both women were eligible for early release under a brand new Russian amnesty law because they have small children.
Media outlets have widely interpreted the women's release as Russia mounting a pre-Olympics charm offensive to stave off criticisms of the country's human rights record. (Via BBC)
"What's going on with the Kremlin? Is it finally becoming sensitive to international opinion?" "It has to do with Sochi. The Sochi Winter Olympics — it has to be pristine, pure." (Via Sky News)
"You mustn't ever underestimate just how important these games are to President Putin. They may be called the Winter Olympics. They're actually called the Putin Olympics here, and his credibility really rests on their success." (Via AlJazeera)
This also comes on the heels of another high-profile release. Oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky was also released last week, though the BBC notes he received a personal pardon from Putin because his mother was ill.
Alekhina told reporters she and Tolokonnikova now plan to become human rights activisits.
