And for nothing – for performing an innocent dance in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and a little racier song that allegedly insulted the Church and feelings of the believers. And also Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Strong headlines (I am trying to imagine a Lithuanian punk boys band championing the freedom of speech or something else and it makes me think about how politics can change the meaning of familiar words – but that's an altogether separate topic) in the Lithuanian and international media sent an almost unanimous message from politicians, activists, and pop stars, saying that the punishment for the Russian singers was disproportional and only served to confirm that Russia was a repressive state and Putin an unquestionable dictator.
The main idea communicated by defenders of the Russian punk band was this: Their actions cannot warrant a prison sentence, since self-expression and critique cannot be punishable, even if it takes slightly obscene forms and can be insulting to someone.
Let's imagine myself together with Algirdas Paleckis and Nida Vasiliauskaitė wearing priestly robes in Vilnius Cathedral, shaking our booties and singing about what a piece of crap the Roman Catholic Church of Lithuania is, criticising the President and saying that Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis is a bitch.
I essentially agree with it. Words – hurtful, cruel, and obscene as they may be – do not incur true physical or material harm, while feelings (insults and the like) should not be object of the penal law.
And here I could put a full stop in my commentary, adding my voice to the harmonious choir of freedom of speech and democracy defenders denouncing Putin.
But much as I care about the freedom of speech and democracy in Russia, I am more concerned about the freedom of speech and democracy in Lithuania. Therefore Russian artists suffering under Putin's regime is an excellent excuse to talk about what goes on here.
I am not familiar with procedures of appointing judges in Russia, but I have little doubt that court rulings there are completely subject to the will of Putin.
In Lithuania, it is President Dalia Grybauskaitė who appoints and fires judges. So it would be sensible to conclude that it is the will of the President that makes Lithuanian courts regard the freedom of speech in the same esteem as in Russia.
Need examples? 2011 ruling of Vilnius District Court in criminal case against journalist Gintaras Visockas for insulting reserve General Česlovas Jezerskas. Another ruling by the same court in a criminal case, sentencing Ivanas Gedvila for an attempt to insult the President. Finally, this year's ruling against [Socialist Front leader] Algirdas Paleckis. All these sentences were passed over insults.
Granted, none of the defendants were sentenced to serve time, but perhaps it is just a matter of time. At least judging by the ruling passed by the 2nd Vilnius Court in early 2012, putting into custody journalist Aurimas Drižius who reported about possible perjury committed by former MP Alvydas Sadeckas.
So how different, after all, are the two regimes run by Putin and Grybauskaitė?
To find a hypothetical answer to that question, let's imagine myself together with Paleckis and Nida Vasiliauskaitė, wearing priestly robes in Vilnius Cathedral, shaking our booties and singing about what a piece of crap the Roman Catholic Church of Lithuania is, criticising the President and saying that Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis is a bitch.
Would you defend my freedom of speech? I'd love to see that.
