Col. Morris Davis, the former chief prosecutor at Guantanamo, talks about his mission to close the facility.
Check showtimes to see when the program airs on CNN where you are. Or watch online.
Even though people power is asserting itself around the world and authoritarian regimes are falling, one is standing firmer than ever: Russia. Vladimir Putin has returned to the presidency for the third time and is lowering the iron fist.
Tonight, I spoke with Petr Verzilov, who’s an artist, activist and the husband of one of the jailed band members of a Russian feminist punk rock band called Pussy Riot. In February, the group did a protest, storming the altar at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior and called upon the Virgin Mary to "put Putin away." Of course, many found this performance offensive; but is it criminal? The women are charged with "hooliganism, motivated by religious hatred or hostility.” In Russia, that’s a felony, with a maximum seven year jail sentence. The group has pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, but they've already been in prison for five months. Two of them have small children, whom they haven't seen since their arrest.
MORE: 3 members of Russian band Pussy Riot plead not guilty to hooliganism
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| 
Political protest is of course fine, especially given the somewhat authoritarian democracy seen in Russia these days..... it was probably unwise and inappropriate to do so in a church.
Okay, so if it was in USA would be they released? I mean if they did same thing in some church?
Probably. They might be charged with vandalism or destruction of property, given a slap on the wrist and let go.
They wouldn't be released because they wouldn't have been arrested. Not on those charges anyway. Trespassing maybe, assuming the church pressed charges.
They would get away with it in San Francisco, and nowhere else.
Why did they have to do it in a holy place? Whether we agree with their motive is not the point, they have to be punished for descrating a holy place. To get respect, you have to show respect and it is obvious that this group blatantly disregarded the rights of a believing community, to keep a place sacred that they hold sacred. I do hope they are meted the appropriate punishment.
I understand that many believers are offended by the actions of these girls, but their idea that this is a corrupt place. As this church can be rented for "special" events. http://www.fxxc.ru/rent/ The defense lawyers tried to bring it up in court, but it was immediately dismissed.
>they have to be punished for descrating a holy place<
One man’s holy place is another man’s garbage dump. Superior nations have separation of church and state. Just because you were offended is not a reason to put someone in prison or k!ll them in extreme cases.
Who genuinely thinks these activists–or anyone else stuck in Putinworld-–is free to do or say anything Vlad disapproves of? Really, what did we really expect at his return w/his iron fist, intimidation & past record? Back 2 Putin's good ol' Russia! EX-KGB--NOT!
Putin is basically a gangster and operates as such, particularly in terms of retribution and eliminating rivals and critics. Expect more of the same.
Worse case, unlawful entry into property which is in fact a felony; however, it was obviously a political act so a fine and a slap on the wrist (with community service TO the Chuch) should be the punishment, nothing more. Russia really is a backward state.
WHY BRITAIN ALLOWS PUTIN TO VISIT IT?
Putin all over three young girls in Prison over anti Putin Punk song but Magneski murders and crimals on even charges as Puton finds it offensive that the west should complain about goverment sponsered corruption and Murder Putin has lost the plot to much mone and power if I was in Russia I could go to jail for this tweet
Publicity stunt......miscalculated
They need to pick their audience better.....otherwise someone will have to manage that part for them.
Imagine you are at the concert hall with the kids.....and masked men or women jump out.....with the terror acts, I imagine this was a cruel event to live through in church.
Na Mak
These three young women have no regard for God. Whatever their case, the church is not the place for the type of infamy they displayed in the church. But thank God for Christianity's tolerance which derives from the love of Jesus Christ. If this had happened with one of the opposite faiths they would have since met their maker without the government lifting a finger on them.
Whether their act is criminal or not, they are guilty of something – and should be punished they serve as deterrent to others.
Tolerance.. right.
That’s why they are facing 7 years in person for a SONG! Your religion is not better than those you condemn.
Remember.. you have no more proof of your god than there is for Zues, Ra or Ganesha.
ur a complete looser.demogag,liberal..LOOSER AND A LIEAR.CNN END OF MUNIPULATIVE ERA.
The grrrls were simply doing some direct action against an oppressive state with a rigged election and freedom of expression returning to the Soviet times. They're scapegoats. All are activists and this was an excuse to arrest them. The religious hatred charge is a guise for a majority atheist country where believers are a minority. Petr Verzilov is involved in anti government activism so why not arrest him? Would it be something to do with he's a dual Canadian-Russian national? Lets keep it quiet and arrest Russians. Plenty have been arrested for telling the truth and no one cared or knew about it. Obviously, the church and the government underestimated the impact of these three young women. Let our sisters go for this overblown charge and for what is basically a show trial.
When Stalin didn't like a joke, an entire class of people might vanish and the towns they inhabited might be wiped from the face of the earth. So, I think a lot of hyperbole. They had to work so very hard to get arrested, they tried and tried and finally, they got what they wanted, they're famous.
We're a gaggle of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with useful info to work on. You've performed an impressive job and our entire neighborhood might be thankful to you.
I love Hitler! Zieg Heil!
Never thought I'd see "pu$sy" and "fist" in the same headline. Congratulations CNN!
Thank you for any other informative site. The place else may just I get that type of information written in such a perfect means? I've a challenge that I am simply now operating on, and I have been on the glance out for such info.
It's actually a cool and helpful piece of information. I'm happy that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
I just couldn't go away your website before suggesting that I extremely loved the standard info a person supply on your guests? Is gonna be back incessantly in order to inspect new posts
You recognize thus considerably relating to this subject, produced me for my part consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like women and men aren't interested unless it is one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs great. Always deal with it up!
I just couldn't leave your web site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the usual information a person supply on your visitors? Is going to be back frequently to inspect new posts
Hello there, You've done a fantastic job. I'll certainly digg it and for my part recommend to my friends. I am sure they'll be benefited from this web site.
My brother suggested I would possibly like this website. He used to be entirely right. This submit truly made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!