" (...) Now, 12 months later, the images of Russia dominating TV news in Europe and the US are not of three young women caged inside a courtroom, or a rainbow of balaclavas outside Russian embassies. Instead, the pictures are of bloodied gay rights demonstrators in St Petersburg and Swedish athletes with multi-coloured nail varnish to protest the new Russian laws against “gay propaganda to minors”. The law, in practice, makes it near impossible to hold gay pride marches or demonstrations for equal rights. Before Pussy Riot, Samutsevich was an eager LGBT activist. Does she agree with the calls for athletes not to attend the game? “Of course I support the boycott,” Samutsevich says, “but it is hard not to feel that it is a shame that the laws of this country mean it deserves to be boycotted.” She is wary, she says, that a boycott is creating “victims” which the establishment can use for political leverage against the progressive movement. “The point of the Olympic Games is actually something which is good and positive. To refuse to take part in the Olympic Games because of the politics of the country is very offensive. The sport, the athletes are not the problem.” Activists abroad are doing the right thing, she says, citing banners at gay pride marches and open letters in the media. (...) “Having the support of people all over the world shows that our actions in the Cathedral were not hooliganism, but art. People in Russia think art is a closed book, that art is just a portrait or a painting. “They do not understand that it can be other things; and that it can shock. “I heard about an example in America. So, in New York it is forbidden to wear balaclavas and cover your face in certain public spaces. For several days from August 17th, I think it was, three people illegally covered their faces and went to different places. This was an amazing demonstration of support.” The attacks on gay rights activists, and her own imprisonment for taking part in a performance of an anti-Vladimir Putin “punk prayer” at Moscow cathedral, are difficult for your average Westerner to comprehend, she hints. “I have really noticed how shocked people seem to be at our different political systems, the USA is very different, in Moscow everything is very closed. I think Pussy Riot did help to highlight that.” Even if growing dissatisfaction is clear, there is no obvious opposition to Putin for her or like-minded individuals to rally behind, she says. Anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, currently campaigning to be Moscow mayor, “is part of a new generation of politicians in Russia emerging,” she says. Navalny seems a likely ally, himself recently at the centre of a politically-motivated court case which saw him imprisoned for corruption, then unexpectedly released 24 hours later. But Navalny, Samutsevich says, does not inspire her, and she does not support him, even though she agrees he is “the most active” opposition voice. “The whole political system has to be different, if we are to ever change the situation in Russia,” she says. “But I do believe protests can change things.” She cites the boycott of Russian vodka by gay bars and supporters across the US and Europe. “I believe, at least in theory, that any one can change any situation, even in a totalitarian state, if the people keep up the protest.” "
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 21:02:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015