U.S. Rep. Jim Mcgovern Meets with Members of Pussy Riot

Washington, DC, May 5, 2014
Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) met today with two members of the Russian band and activist group Pussy Riot to discuss ongoing human rights violations in Russia.

(May 5, 2014) - Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) met today with two members of the Russian band and activist group Pussy Riot, Maria Alyokhina (left) and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (right).

During the meeting, Ms. Alyokhina and Ms. Tolokonnikova shared with Rep. McGovern their concerns about the ongoing human rights violations in Russia and presented him with a list of Russian officials who played an active role in arrests and prosecution of the Bolotnaya Square protesters.  They also emphasized the importance of expanding the Magnitsky list to include more names of Russian violators of human rights.

Both women were imprisoned in 2012 for protesting against the Russian government and have since been vocal critics on a variety of human rights issues, such as political prisoners, corruption, freedom of speech, and prison system.

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