Russian protest group Pussy Riot has
endorsed a boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi over a
Russian law that prohibits the promotion of gay rights.
The law, approved in June, prohibits
the public promotion of “gay propaganda” where minors might be
present, effectively shutting down public demonstrations of support.
Russia's law has provoked worldwide protests and calls for a boycott
of the upcoming Sochi Olympics.
Three members of Pussy Riot were
convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”
following a performance on the soleas of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ
the Savior last year. (It is unknown how many members are involved
in the group. Most remain anonymous.)
“I support the boycott because I do
not think at this stage there is any other way to make our
authorities see and understand because they keep ignoring the rights
of their citizens,” Ekaterina Samutsevich, one of the three
convicted members, told
the BBC. “And at this stage there is no other way to affect
change, because the authorities have taken hostage of the media, so
perhaps this boycott can be a symbol of criticism being voiced.”
“It's a very difficult life for
homosexuals in Russia,” she continued. “[This law] will make
life for non-traditional sexual orientation just simply hell and
there will be no protection because at the moment the only protection
is the law, and this law has very abstract provisions.”