Amnesty International, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Yasiin Bey - Open Letter to Free Pussy Riot lyrics

Dear Masha and Nadia

As the one-year anniversary of
Your trial approaches, we are
Writing to assure you that, around the world
People are both still thinking
Of you and working
For your release although you were the most
Visible of the protesters
We know that there were many other
Young people who have suffered in
The protests
About whom we are also very concerned
But, in many ways, through your imprisonment
You have come to represent them

Many artists voiced their concern when
These charges were first brought
Against you, we had every
Hope that the authorities, in
Dealing with you, would show some
Understanding, a sense of proportion
Even some of the wonderful
Russian sense of humour
But none of the above were forthcoming

The impact of your shockingly unjust trial
And imprisonment has spread far and
Wide especially among your fellow artists
Musicians and citizens around the world
Including the many parents who feel
Your anguish at being
Separated from your children while
Understanding the sensitivities
Of protesting in a place of worship, we ask
That the Russian authorities review
These harsh sentences, so
That you may return to your children
Your families and your lives

The right to freedom of expression
And dissent is a legitimate
One and essential in any kind
Of democracy you have
Been accused of what could be
Described as ‘a victimless’
Crime, but in our opinion, in a just society
There can be no crime where
There is no identifiable ‘victim’

Your strength
Bravery and fearlessness are an
Inspiration to us all yours in solidarity

Bryan Adams, Adele, Alt-J, Laurie Anderson
Animal collective, Anti-Flag, Arcade Fire
Arch Enemy, archive, Joan Armatrading, Joan
Baez, Beardyman
Jeff Beck, Yasiin Bey, björk, rubén
Blades, Billy Bragg, Jackson
Browne, Peter Buck
Tracy Chapman, Chase & Status
Neneh Cherry, The Clash, Coldplay, Lily
Rose Cooper, Dido, Django Django, melissa
Etheridge, Siobhan Fahey Paloma Faith
First Aid
Kit, Franz Ferdinand, Foster the People
Fun, Peter Gabriel, Sir Bob Geldof, Kim
Gordon, Debbie Harry, PJ Harvey
Don Henley, The Hidden Cameras, Niall Horan
Billy Joel, Sir Elton John
Ke$ha, Angelique Kidjo, The Knife, Mark
Knopfler, Tom Lehrer, Sean Lennon, annie
Lennox, Lykke Li, Sir Paul McCartney, Romy
Madley-Croft, Madonna, Zayn Malik
Stephen Malkmus
Marina & the Diamonds, Johnny Marr
Massive Attack, Mike Mills, Moby, thurston
Moore, Tom Morello, Alanis
Morissette, James Morrison
Graham Nash, Kate Nash, Youssou N’Dour
Karen O, Yoko Ono, Clock Opera
Ozzy Osbourne, Liam Payne, Peaches
Joe Perry, Phoenix, Portishead
Portugal the Man
Rain Phoenix, Cat Power, Radiohead, bonnie
Raitt, Rise Against, Patti Scialfa, Scissor
Sisters, Paul Simon, Sleigh Bells
Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding
Bruce Springsteen
Dave Stewart, Sting, Michael Stipe, harry
Styles, Neil Tennant, Louis Tomlinson, Pete
Townshend, K T Tunstall, U2, eddie Vedder