Reykjavik, Iceland Mayor Jon Gnarr donned a pink dress and rode through the streets of the Icelandic capital in its annual Gay Pride Parade to add his voice to calls to free three female members pf the Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot who were arrested during an improvised and concert in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour rockers and are now facing seven years in a Russian jail for an anti-government performance.
The band members have gained sympathy both within Russia and internationally due to allegations of harsh treatment while in custody and a risk of a the possible seven-year jail sentence, and have also been criticized in Russia for offending the feelings of religious people.
Alexei Nikiforov, a federal prosecutor, has demanded prison for the trio because they ‘abused God’ and celebrity ballerina Anastasia Volochkova (whose real fame is that she was fired from the Bolshoi Ballet for being “too fat”) called for the musicians to repent publicly for their obscenity-laced performance and be punished by cleaning public restrooms.
Icelandic musician Bjork also published a statement expressing sympathy for Pussy Riot on her site, saying she understood the defendants “as a musician and a mother.” and has invited the three band members to join her on stage to perform a song calling for greater justice.