‘Morality Coalition’ Slams Pussy Riot's Prize Nomination

RIA NOVOSTI

RUSSIA---A Russian Morality Coalition on Wednesday protested the European Parliament’s decision to nominate three jailed members of the punk group Pussy Riot for the Andrei Sakharov human rights award. “We would like to note that the Pussy Riot members received two-year prison sentences not over freedom-of-thought issues but for attempting to organize a provocation in the Christ the Savior Cathedral that offended believers,” the hitherto-unknown Coalition said in a letter to the European Parliament. The winner will be chosen in December in Strasbourg. The Sakharov Prize, which comes with a 50,000 euro award, is given to individuals and organizations who have made a special contribution to the protection of human rights. Soviet dissident Anatoly Marchenko, who died in prison in 1986, and Nelson Mandela were the first to be awarded the prize in 1988. [link]