MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow's Khamovniki Court on Wednesday imposed restrictions on reports from the courtroom where the trial of all-female punk band Pussy Riot is taking place, court press secretary Daria Lyakh said on Wednesday.


file photo


file photo

"From now on it is prohibited to disclose in online reports the details of the case which witnesses mention in their testimonies," Lyakh said.

Under Russian procedural law, witnesses cannot be present in the courtroom before questioning, in order that their testimony is not affected by previous statements.

After all of the witnesses in this trial have testified, journalists will be allowed to publish all of what has been said in reported speech, the head of Moscow City Court Press Service Marina Usachova said. "The testimonies are not classified," she said.

Three Pussy Riot members - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, - are on trial in Moscow over their alleged performance of a "punk prayer," calling for then-Prime Minister and United Russia head Vladimir Putin to quit, carried out in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral earlier this year. They face up to seven years if convicted on hooliganism charges.

During the hearings on Wednesday, all of the three women felt sick, their lawyer Nikolay Plozov said, adding that an ambulance has been called.

"According to the court's chairman they felt sick. I do not know any other details yet," Polozov said.

Earlier, Pussy Riot members have complained over health problems and lack of sleep due to late-night hearings related to the case.

On Wednesday, Moscow City Court dismissed appeals filed by Pussy Riot members over a court decision to restrict the time they have to study the case materials.

Members of Pussy Riot have called their "punk prayer" at the Cathedral an "ethical mistake," but pleaded not guilty to charges of hooliganism.

Amnesty International has recognized the three group members held in custody as prisoners of conscience. A number of prominent Western musicians, including Sting, Franz Ferdinand and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, have spoken in their support.

Keywords: Russia, Protests, Politics - Russia, Media, Internet - Russia, Law - Russian News - Russia - Johnson's Russia List

MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti)-Moscow's Khamovniki Court on Wednesday imposed restrictions on reports from the courtroom where the trial of all-female punk band Pussy Riot is taking place, court press secretary Daria Lyakh said on Wednesday.

file photo


file photo

"From now on it is prohibited to disclose in online reports the details of the case which witnesses mention in their testimonies," Lyakh said.

Under Russian procedural law, witnesses cannot be present in the courtroom before questioning, in order that their testimony is not affected by previous statements.

After all of the witnesses in this trial have testified, journalists will be allowed to publish all of what has been said in reported speech, the head of Moscow City Court Press Service Marina Usachova said. "The testimonies are not classified," she said.

Three Pussy Riot members - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, - are on trial in Moscow over their alleged performance of a "punk prayer," calling for then-Prime Minister and United Russia head Vladimir Putin to quit, carried out in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral earlier this year. They face up to seven years if convicted on hooliganism charges.

During the hearings on Wednesday, all of the three women felt sick, their lawyer Nikolay Plozov said, adding that an ambulance has been called.

"According to the court's chairman they felt sick. I do not know any other details yet," Polozov said.

Earlier, Pussy Riot members have complained over health problems and lack of sleep due to late-night hearings related to the case.

On Wednesday, Moscow City Court dismissed appeals filed by Pussy Riot members over a court decision to restrict the time they have to study the case materials.

Members of Pussy Riot have called their "punk prayer" at the Cathedral an "ethical mistake," but pleaded not guilty to charges of hooliganism.

Amnesty International has recognized the three group members held in custody as prisoners of conscience. A number of prominent Western musicians, including Sting, Franz Ferdinand and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, have spoken in their support.