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Madonna Sued for $10 Million in Moral Damages in Russia
 
  by: Hailey - Collegeville, PA
started: 08/21/12 3:26 pm | updated: 08/21/12 3:56 pm
 
Originally only fined for 5,000 Rubles ($150), the popstar is now being sued for moral damages by hardliners in Russia after the conviction of Pussy Riot. During a concert in St. Petersburg, Madonna showed her support for the LGBT community by saying “show your love and appreciation to the gay community.” Pink wristbands were distributed to attendees and Madonna wore a black bra with the words “No Fear” on her back.

The charges were submitted by Vitaly Milonov, the assemblyman who introduced the anti-gay law in St. Petersburg. The charges state that attendees, as well as those who saw videos of the concert suffered “psychological stress and emotional shock” due to Madonna promoting LGBT rights. The city currently has a ban on “homosexual propaganda”. The ban includes anything that includes the "propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism, and pedophilia” and was passed back in March. After hearing about the law passing, Madonna was quoted calling it a “ridiculous atrocity.”

For those who do not know, homosexuality has only been “legal” for about 20 years, making the country’s stance on the matter less progressive than other nations. One of the plaintiffs, Alexei Kolotkov, was quoted saying: “Maybe someone does not see the link but after Madonna’s concert maybe some boy becomes gay, some girl becomes lesbian, fewer children are born as a result and this big country cannot defend its borders – for me it causes moral suffering.”

Anti-gay rights activists were not the only ones disapproving of Madonna’s actions though. A gay rights activist, Yury Gavrikov, said “Madonna as an artist and many other stars are using human rights issues for them to promote shows and make money. We don’t respect this idea. We wanted to protest the hypocrisy of the stars.’ If you want to really do something, you have to not just talk about problems, you have to do something that is politically important, powerful. Meeting with the mayor of St Petersburg or breaking out of the Russian tour is a way to attract more attention.”

After her show in St. Petersburg, Madonna then moved onto Moscow where she voiced her support for Pussy Riot, the band who performed an anti-Putin “punk prayer” while inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ Savior and found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” . Instead of “No Fear” scrawled across her back, she had the band’s name. Additionally, she released a statement Saturday:

“I protest the conviction and sentencing of Pussy Riot to a penal colony for two years for a 40 second performance extolling their political opinions. Even if one disagrees with the location or how they chose to express themselves, the sentence is too harsh and in fact is inhumane. I call on all those who love freedom to condemn this unjust punishment. I urge artists around the world to speak up in protest against this travesty. They’ve spent enough time in jail. I call on all of Russia to let Pussy Riot go free.”
Only time will tell how the nation will react to both Madonna and Pussy Riot speaking out for rights of citizens.

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(2) responses

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 by: iradiophilly - Philadelphia, PA | responded: 08/21 3:53 pm
 
Madonna with the words "No Fear" written on her back at a concert in St. Petersburg, Russia promoting LGBT rights.


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 by: iradiophilly - Philadelphia, PA | responded: 08/21 3:56 pm
 
Madonna with the words "Pussy Riot" written on her back at a concert in Moscow protesting the recent conviction and sentence of members of the Russian punk band.

 

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