By Ulf Mauder –
MOSCOW — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Wednesday criticized as “too hard” last month’s sentencing of three members of punk rock band Pussy Riot to two years each in jail for staging a public punk prayer against President Vladimir Putin.
Medvedev said he was offended by the performance, in which the band, without permission, sang songs against Putin — who was campaigning for re-election as president. But, speaking before members of the country’s ruling United Russia party, he said probation would have been a more-than-sufficient punishment.
More jail time would be “unproductive,” he said.
A court is scheduled to hear an appeal Oct. 1 against the verdict on charges of hooliganism and spreading religious hate.
