Friday, August 17, 2012

BuzzFeed - Latest: What Does It Mean To Be Charged With "Hooliganism" In Russia?

BuzzFeed - Latest
BuzzFeed, Find Your New Favorite Thing
thumbnail What Does It Mean To Be Charged With "Hooliganism" In Russia?
Aug 17th 2012, 19:02

Pussy Riot was sentenced to two years in prison today on the charge of “hooliganism.” Below, a look at what the charge actually means in Russian law.

Members of Pussy Riot hold up the guilty verdict against them.

Image by - / Getty Images

There are two types of hooliganism.

Peter B. Maggs, law professor and Russian law expert, tells BuzzFeed Shift that the Russian legal code identifies two types of hooliganism: petty and criminal. Petty hooliganism is more or less like disorderly conduct — Maggs says 90% of those convicted for this offense are "obnoxious drunks." The punishment is usually a fine or brief imprisonment.

Criminal hooliganism is more serious. It has to be "a gross violation of public order, showing a disrespect for society." It must involve weapons or objects used as weapons, or be done for motives of political, ideological, racial, national, or religious hatred, or hatred toward a social group. It can carry a sentence of up to 5 years if committed by an individual, or 7 years if committed by an organized group.

The performance for which Pussy Riot was charged.

Pussy Riot was convicted of the second type.

The band — which Maggs says is really more of a social-activist group — was convicted of criminal hooliganism because their performance in a church "disrupted the peace of a religious institution." Maggs explains that while the performance didn't appear to interrupt an actual service, people often pray in Russian churches even when services aren't going on, and Pussy Riot may have "disrupted the atmosphere" of the church for them. The band argued that they did so as a form of protest, and not out of hatred, but the judge ruled against them.


View Entire List ›

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

No comments:

Post a Comment