Russia: TV Interview for programme “Provocateurs” without the arrestees’ knowledge and agreement
Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova und Ekaterina Samutsevichparticipated in a TV show against Pussy Riot without knowing it. They expected an interrogation with the presecutors on the topic of their private lives, instead it was filmed by the Russian governmental television.
On the 24th of april there was a show on Russian TV named “Provocateurs” dedicated to the case Pussy Riot. It was made by the famous Russian journalist Arkadij Mamontov, using short videos and discussion in the studio to present a one sided view on the case. The focus was on the religious topic and the – as said – aimed destabilization of the Russian society. It was also stated that the action was organized by persons in the background.
The video was announced as an interview with the arrested women. As V. Volkova, one of the advocates in this case, said in an interview with TVRain on the 27th of April, the women expected an questioning by the investigators. They didn’t know that the omnipresent cameras this time belonged to the Russian governmental television and that their statements on their personal lives were broadcasted nationwide on the tv show “Provocateurs”.
Interview with V. Volkova
Lobkov: Did the meeting with the film team of the governmental television influence the arrested psychological situation?
Volkova: No, they were discouraged. No one told them where they went to and why they went there. They were led to an office and asked questions in front of a camera. They even didn’t know that they were filmed, for what purpose and why.
Arno: But they surely recognized Arkadij Mamontov. It is difficult not to recognize him.
Volkova: No.
Arno: Oh, I was just told that he wasn’t there.
Volkova: Because of this my client told me: We were misleaded. We were told that there will be some questions on our private lives.” Because of this she went there calmly and answered all questions. That this would become part of a tv show no one told them.
(Source: freepussyriot.org)
