ZURICH, Switzerland — Pop star Madonna publicly responded Saturday to the sentencing of the Russian protest group Pussy Riot, saying during a Zurich, Switzerland, concert that she was devastated and disgusted by the two-year prison terms handed down for three of the punk rock group’s members.
It was Madonna’s first public comment following Friday’s sentencing of the all-female band for hooliganism and inciting religious hatred. The three members of the band were charged after performing a song in March at a Moscow cathedral asking the Virgin Mary to save the country from President Vladimir Putin.
Madonna mentioned her outrage four times during her two-hour show, stopping the performance to comment, according to the entertainment website hitfix.com.
“You must know by now I am truly upset, devastated and disgusted by the sentencing of Pussy Riot,” Madonna said. “I am dedicating the rest of my life to fighting all kinds of discrimination.”