Paul McCartney offers support to Russian punk band August 16, 2012 - 17:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Paul McCartney has sent support to a Russian punk band whose members face prison for a stunt against President Vladimir Putin. In a letter released Thursday, August 16 the former Beatle urged three members of all-female band Pussy Riot to "stay strong" and called on authorities to allow them freedom of speech. McCartney said that "I and many others like me who believe in free speech will do everything in our power to support you and the idea of artistic freedom." The band members have been in jail for more than five months because of an anti-Putin prank in Moscow's main cathedral, and face a maximum seven years in jail. Celebrities including Madonna and Bjork have called for them to be freed. A judge is due to rule on their case Friday, AP reported.   Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says.   Partner news |  Latest news Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty  Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty.Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza.Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations.U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |
