Putin the One on Trial, Say Pussy Riot Women

Closing statements talk about the harshness of Russia's justice system.

THREE members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot said Vladimir Putin's Russia was the one on trial as they delivered closing arguments on Wednesday in a case seen as a key test of the President's crackdown on dissent.

"This is a trial of the whole government system of Russia, which so likes to show its harshness toward the individual, its indifference to his honour and dignity," said Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, one of the trio on trial. "If this political system throws itself against three girls … it shows this political system is afraid of truth.'