Sinead O’Connor Pens Letter to Putin Calling for Pussy Riot’s Release

As three members of Pussy Riot wait patiently for an Oct. 1 hearing regarding their appeal of a two-year sentence handed down last month, after they were found guilty on charges of  “hooliganism driven by religious hatred,” Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has penned an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for the punk band’s release from prison.

In a sprawling letter that runs nearly 1,800 words, O’Connor appeals to Putin as the father of two daughters and asks that he forgive the three members of Pussy Riot for the sake of their own children. “Oh Sir,” she writes, “can you imagine as a young father, how awful it would have been for you and your child if a brash impulsive young action on your part, not well thought out and not meant to frighten anyone, resulted in your poor child losing you?”

The singer also says that she doesn’t like to involve herself in politics (“politics confuses and bores me”) and has no interest in the anti-Russian backlash caused by the Pussy Riot controversy (“I [don't] want to be used by any government or organization to push some anti-Russian agenda”).

But she does seem certain that the women regret their involvement in the protest (“I think it was stupid terrifying people … I’m sure the girls are very sorry they hadn’t thought of that in their youthful impulsiveness and genuine desire to be heard”), and she appeals to Putin’s masculinity (“Show the world what a real man is, as you can”).

To sum it up, Sinead O’Connor just wants the three imprisoned Pussy Riot members to be allowed to go home, even it it’s on house arrest. “Please say it, Sir,” she concludes. “Even just to yourself. Say ‘forgive.’ And let these children have their mums at home on house arrest immediately while the other legal issues are pending.”

Read the entire letter, which will be delivered to the Kremlin on Sept. 24, online at Rolling Stone.