Blog 9: Putin laughs off protest by women's rights group

On Monday in Germany, three members of the Russian women’s rights group Femen staged a topless protest. The protest was speaking out against the Russian president calling him a dictator who hides behind his security guards. Staged because Russia detained the feminist band Pussy Riot’s tour, they decided to protest during his visit to Germany’s trade fair.

Instead of outrage over the display, President Vladimir Putin “laughed it off”. He claimed to have enjoyed what he saw, and did not even note on the political aspect of their protest. Putin is on record for saying that he did not even notice the hair color of the girls, or hear what they were shouting. He was so enthralled by their bare breasts that he could not understand the political message. “I think it is better to be dressed if one wants to discuss political matters,” he said. The German police who dragged the protestors away were rather rough, and no comment was given to this aspect.

Resonation did ring with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who now questions further economic ties with Russia. She says that human rights are a priority in Germany, since she lived through the crisis in East Germany. Merkel also feels that protest is an important part of human rights, and feels the topless protestors should have been allowed to conclude their demonstration. Germany is reminded of Soviet-era oppression by the shutting up of the protestors. This act could affect the partnership of Russia and Germany’s economies.

I feel like the fact that the protestors are women had a strong influence of how quickly they were stopped. The comments made toward the women were completely derogatory. Their own president couldn’t focus on their political message, or the relation of their being topless to their protest. Openly making comments about their nakedness being “entertaining” instead of impacting and powerful reinforces what I’ve seen in the news this semester. Women are not taken seriously by the government when they speak out, and educated women advocating rights are met with oppression. It is also a trend that freedom of speech does not really exist. Female bloggers are sexually harassed for speaking their mind, and these women were forced off the streets. Developed and developing countries alike are seeing the same pattern of hiding their “uppity” women.

Dylan Reddish

4/8/13 8:35pm

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-laughs-off-topless-protest-by-womens-rights-group-femen-8564917.html?origin=internalSearch