A Russian Cleric who was staunchly anti-women's rights has died at the age of 69. His views perhaps signal a shift in the views of the country as a whole.
Two members of the Russian feminist music group Pussy Riot were arrested this week for participating in a protest in demand of LGBTQ rights. The activists hung rainbow flags around Moscow on government buildings including the Presidential Executive Office and the Supreme Court. A journalist covering the event, Artyom Radygin, was arrested and later released, although his cell phone was never returned to him. These arrests point to the Russian government's censorship of any form of speech that criticizes or opposes them.
In a Moscow court ruling, Irina Zhivova was ordered to pay her ex-husband approximately 10,000 rubles for using the words "inflict a beating" in a Facebook post about domestic violence. This court order set a precedent that victims of domestic violence cannot speak out about their experience until a judicial decision has been reached. In Russia, there no law defining domestic violence, making it difficult for survivors to obtain protection. This court ruling further silences women, illustrating the dire need for change in how domestic violence is viewed and dealt with.
