Hackin' Off

Hackers Attack Russian Court Website After Pussy Riot Verdict

The international community continues to voice its outrage against the unfair judgement and jailing of punk-politico rockers Pussy Riot, who were sentenced to two years in prison following a much-publicized protest-prayer against Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Following protests outside the Russian courthouse where three of the band’s members were sentenced, a group of hackers took their protest viral. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Unknown hackers broke into the official website of the Khamovnichesky District Court, slapping up a recording of new song by Pussy Riot called “Putin is Lighting the Fires of the Revolution,” as well as a risque video called “Hate” by flamboyantly gay Bulgarian singer Azis.

The names of tabs linking to other sections of the site were also replaced with comments like “Free Pussy Riot,” and “Only an Open Trial Can Be Fair,” along with other snide and profanity-laced remarks.

The hackivist organization Anonymous later owned up to the hack-job. They, along with TheEliteSociety, have targeted a number of oppressive and censorious countries, most recently hacking into the governmental and communication websites of Uganda and other anti-LGBT African nations.

The hackers also issued a statement in which they said, “We do not forget or forgive.…Tyranny cannot judge.” So it turns out the revolution will not be televised after all, but it will be tweeted and Facebook’d the world over.

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