Another surreal moment in Sochi: 2 members of punk band Pussy Riot held in Sochi

[Are_grits_groceries]

@rdemak:
2 members of punk band Pussy Riot held in Sochi
http://wintergames.ap.org/capecodonline/article/2-members-punk-band-pussy-riot-held-sochi

They need some Ukrainian protesters too.

[El_Johns]

1. They sure travel a lot. I don't think their band gig pays enough for that.

[pampango]

2. "The two women have continued to be outspoken critics of Mr. Putin and the Russian government

their release on Dec. 23. They had expressed no pleasure in the amnesty program, saying it was intended to portray Mr. Putin as merciful in the days leading up to the Olympics, and that they would have preferred to serve the remaining few weeks of their two-year sentences.

Ms. Tolokonnikova and Ms. Alyukhina were convicted in connection with a protest act that they staged in Moscow’s main cathedral in which they prayed to the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Mr. Putin.

In a series of messages on Twitter, Ms. Tolokonnikova said that the two women had been also been detained on Sunday and Monday. On Monday, she said they were held by the Federal Security Service, known as the F.S.B.

“We are in Sochi to hold a Pussy Riot action,” she wrote. “The song is called, ‘Putin Will Teach You to Love the Motherland.” However, she said they had not yet carried out any protest and were merely walking in Sochi when they were stopped by the authorities on Tuesday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/19/world/europe/pussy-riot.html?_r=0

Even if they had not yet conducted any protest in Sochi, I am sure the security forces know what they look like and suspected they were not in Sochi to watch the Olympics. The alleged "robbery" is a convenient way to get them off the street and prevent any anti-Putin protest.

Apparently their original 2-year sentence was almost up when they were 'amnestied' prior to the Olympics. If they are convicted of a new crime, they could be put away for another long time.

Got to give them credit. They must have known what a chance they were taking by staying in Russia after their release and in going to Sochi.