Pussy Riot, Russian Girl Band, Caught Up In Murder Case.

My Guitar Lessons has found out that a university professor has been arrested in connection with two murders in Russia which he allegedly attempted to link to the Pussy Riot case. Igor Danilevsky was detained by authorities on August 30 over the weekend’s double murder, which saw the victims found next to the words “Free Pussy Riot” written in blood, in the Russian city of Kazan.

The Guardian reports that Danilevsky allegedly wrote the slogan to make the murders seem as if they were part of a ritual killing. Danilevsky is now being held over the killing of his 38 year old partner and her 76 year old mother. Supporters of the three jailed members of the Russian punk collective previously stated that the blood graffiti was an attempt to discredit the band and their politics.

Pyotr Verzilov, the husband of jailed Nadezhda Tolokonnikova told Gazeta.Ru: “This is an attempt to strike at all supporters of the group.” One of the band’s lawyers, Nikolai Polozov, tweeted: “What happened in Kazan is horrible. Pussy Riot was always for nonviolent protest. This incident is either a horrendous provocation or [the work of] a psychopath.” Earlier this week, the three jailed members of Pussy Riot appealed against their sentence.

They received two-year prison sentences on August 17 after being found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. They were arrested in February after they staged a flashmob style performance at Moscow’s Church Of Christ The Saviour, protesting against the Orthodox Christian church’s support of president Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the band has said that at least two of its other members have fled Russia to avoid arrest.

Thanks to NME for the report.