This really is incredible. Here's the end of their statement (full text here: https://chtodelat.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/yekaterina-samutsevich-closing-statement/ )

"In the end, considering all the irreversible political and symbolic losses caused by our innocent creativity, the authorities decided to protect the public from us and our nonconformist thinking. Thus ended our complicated punk adventure in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

I now have mixed feelings about this trial. On the one hand, we expect a guilty verdict. Compared to the judicial machine, we are nobodies, and we have lost. On the other hand, we have won. The whole world now sees that the criminal case against us has been fabricated. The system cannot conceal the repressive nature of this trial. Once again, the world sees Russia differently from the way Putin tries to present it at his daily international meetings. Clearly, none of the steps Putin promised to take toward instituting the rule of law have been taken. And his statement that this court will be objective and hand down a fair verdict is yet another deception of the entire country and the international community. That is all. Thank you."

Wow. There are so many ways that you can go with this that it's unbelievable. On one hand, the statement really does paint a stark picture about what the authorities inside Russia are doing to hold onto power.

On the other, it's a reminder of the lessons that have been learned over and over about what happens when Church and State mix.

"Whenever the church has focused on evangelism and preaching the gospel, her influence has increased. When she has sought power by political, cultural, or military activism, she has damaged or spoiled her testimony." - John MacArthur

Exactly.

Just heard on the news Pussy Riot got 2 years in prison.

Russia.

New video from Pussy Riot. It comes across as a bit self-promoting but it's still compelling to me for the simple reason that they believe passionately in something beyond their own selfish interests and that I think elevates their message above the noise and usual chatter.

http://youtu.be/hDgTRiNOJUM

Hi, my post might be a bit too late, but I decided to answer anyway. Pussy Riot are just a bunch of ambitious girls with no talents who decided to make their name by exploiting one of the most famous people in the world. They did their performance in the main cathedral of the country and offended millions of people by showing no respect to this holy place), Russian people are very religious. Just tell me what would happen to them if they did the same in Westminster Abby or Vatican? Would they walk free? Would they become world heroes for fighting against the stupidity of Cameron or corruption of Berlusconi? Or they would be put in prison for vandalism of a national treasure? One month later one guy nailed his testicles to the pavement on the Red Square, it was his form of protest. Nobody has heard of him, because he didn't offend half of the population, he made headlines of the day in the local news and blogs. And these things happen all the time.