Famous French singer Mireille Mathieu has complained about the Russian state-run TV channel TV Center for censoring and cutting her interview which she gave after the opening of "Spasskaya bashnya" musical festival in Moscow, Kommersant newspaper reported on Friday.
Mathieu was asked a question about the Russian punk band Pussy Riot and what she thought of the verdict for the three of its members for performing "a punk prayer" in Russia's main cathedral. "I think that the girls did not completely realize what they were doing. A church is not a place for demonstration. One can protest in another way. A church is a place for praying, and that is sacrilege," Mathieu said.
However, the singer's words were translated differently. The video of her interview which was uploaded in the Internet was altered. "I think they are insane, I condemn their actions. A church is not a place for such acts. The Church has always been and will be a place where people come to the light, for the purification of the soul. This is a sacred place that must be respected, especially the Russian Church; it is full of such fervor and zeal," the translator said.
Mathieu addressed the French media, saying that she also said that the TV Channel cut her phrase which she said after that. "As a woman and an artist, as well as a Christian, I ask for a mercy for these three young women," she said. These words were cut from the final interview and were not shown on TV.
TV Center representative said that the phrase was cut after a mistake by a young editor, who will be fired.