MOSCOW, August 1 (Itar-Tass) — Members of the Pussy Riot punk band, who were feeling bad at the Khamovnichesky District Court, can participate in the trial, press secretary of the Khamovnichesky District Court of Moscow Darya Lyakh said on Wednesday.
“Three ambulances were called over the bad health condition of the defendants. After the medical examination the doctors concluded that they can participate in a court session,” she said.
The ambulances left the court premises now.
The defendants and their lawyers said earlier in the court that over an intensive schedule of the court sessions the young women almost do not sleep, do not receive hot meals and sometimes even water. On Tuesday, they complained to the judge about a bad health condition and asked to postpone a court session, but they were denied it.
On Wednesday, the Khamovnichesky District Court was to begin the interrogation of witnesses for prosecution in the Pussy Riot criminal case.
On February 21, five young women in masks and bright clothes turned up at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral, stepped on the ambo, then approached the altar and performed an uncensored song for several minutes through the sound amplifiers, particularly they were crying out insulting words to the clergymen and believers. To the remarks of the church workers and visitors they did not react and escaped in an attempt of the church security guards to detain them.
The punk band Pussy Riot has later assumed responsibility for the escapade. Pussy Riot became notorious over similar protest actions, particularly at the Execution Place on the Red Square.
This criminal case became highly publicized in the society, raising the debates how this offence should be taken in terms of legislation: as an act of hooliganism and then this is a criminal offence with relevant sanctions or as an administrative offence with more lenient consequences.