5-year-jail term likely for ex-Russian chess champ Kasparov for biting cop during Pussy Riot protest
Moscow, Sun, 19 Aug 2012 ANI
Moscow, Aug. 19 (ANI): Russian chess grandmaster-turned-political activist Garry Kasparov could be sentenced for five years in prison after accusations that he bit a police officer during a demonstration supporting a Pussy Riot protest.
Kasparov, 49, was one of the 100 people detained by police close to Moscow’s Khamovnichesky Court.
According to the Telegraph, Kasparov has, however, denied the charges as ‘drivel’.
The activist, who is a co-founder of the Solidarity opposition group, said after his release: “Want to see this officer. The suggestion that I bit him is total drivel. I tried to get free, of course, but my teeth were firmly gritted. Maybe it was a police dog that bit him?”
In response, the police said that they were ready to ‘carry out a test comparing a police dog’s bite to Kasparov’s teeth’ in order to prove the alleged assault.
According to the report, about 2,000 demonstrators had gathered close to the court in support of three members of Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, who were jailed for conducting a ‘punk prayer’ in Moscow’s main cathedral in February, during which they urged the Virgin Mary to ‘drive out Putin’.
Pussy Riot said that their cathedral protest was against the Orthodox Church supporting Vladimir Putin’s re-election to the presidency in March, the report added.
The prosecution provoked a wave of international protest, with the US and British Governments joining celebrities, such as Madonna and Sir Paul McCartney, in condemning the trial as an attack on political freedom, the report added. (ANI)
Source: http://www.newstrackindia.com
Make no mistake. Kasparov has wild behavior..During the 5 years he should get some mental health counselling.. which would get rid of his megalomaniacal thinking.. Opportunist..BTW, where is his good friend Karpov now? supporting or opposing?
Do not know about other protesters but Kasparov is certainly not honest. He lies and plays dirty games to gain power and money. God bless Kasparov to gain some insight in to his motives and make him a nicer human being.
Sad.
It just goes to show yas.
Pussy Riot…a pretty lame Russian band will probably have more to do with Cultural voices than Mr Kasparov ever will.
It’s just humourus to look at.
Kasparov spoke to reporters in front of trial that was going to convict the Pussy Riot, really subversives pretending to be a legitimate rock and roll band. He knew the outcome or he forgot he was not in the decadent west. Then Madonna broke the Russian law about supporting gays, lets hope she also will serve time in prison too.
So with Pussy Riot, Madonna and Kasparov there is almost room to fill a train car. The Pussy Right has children, Modonna too, and Kasparov mother all have a space on a cattle car to the east to join Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
In the old days when the USSR was great these types would not last 18 months. Was how the soviet union successfully solved the prison overcrowding. American is unsuccessful keeping prisoners alive well past the time of their ability to work.
If Putin is going to make omelet he need to break some legs.
I personally do not like Kasparov. His behavior is “arrogant”. He does not get along well with other good chess players. Having said that he doesn’t deserve to go to prison.
Are you kidding me, when you say he deserves a 5 year jail term? That is ridiculous. I cannot even believe if it is true that he indeed did really bite. I think it is fabricated. But let’s suppose it was real. He was arrested for merely protesting the arrest of pussy riot activists. He was manhandled and kicked on the crotch. He wasn’t doing anything unconstitutional – why was he arrested in the first place? The police department should be reprimanded for being so heavy handed on peaceful protestors.
Anonymous @ 10:33AM and Anonymous at 10:51AM, I am shocked to see there are chess fans who would want to see even their enemies go to FIVE years in prison. That is a long long long long period of time. It is one thing to hate someone and it is another thing to wish to see them punished. Have some empathy.
I think Kasparov was having a pamphlet in hand; speaking to press etc.. in a protest env; So the Police think he is formenting trouble. If he had accompanied them no problem. He resisted that too in a uncivil(bite) manner.. Bite a cop in US during arrest and you know what happens..No fan of Putin.. But he is better than Kaspy..
Kasparov will always blame others for his failures.. poor loser in life. Forget IBM.. they ofcourse are corporate minded. But you have to mind your words when you accuse the likes of Ken Thompson – The Einstein of Computers. When did he give freedom to others in life.. be it to his wife or kid or seconds or organizers.. Poll the top 100 players and a overwhelming majority will hate the personal side of kasparov
@CafeStream
“He wasn’t doing anything unconstitutional – why was he arrested in the first place?”
Don’t forget US constitution is not a global document