Russian Prisoners Sing for Freedom

October 28, 2003 5:04 PM

Russian Prisoners Sing for Freedom
A strange take on the whole American Idol concept, prisoners in Russia were allowed to take part in a singing competition to get freed. Of the 26 finalists, six were freed. That only leaves just about a million prisoners left. I'm curious about the precedent this sets.
posted by fenriq (6 comments total)

I'd rather see it reversed, and anyone who participates in a "reality show" like American Idol is sent to prison. Preferably a Siberian one.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:19 PM on October 28, 2003

Justice, it would seem, is blind in Russia -- at both ends.
posted by dhartung at 8:26 PM on October 28, 2003

Justice, it would seem, is blind in Russia

Or tone deaf.
posted by timyang at 3:34 AM on October 29, 2003

What crash_davis said.
posted by elpapacito at 6:00 AM on October 29, 2003

Now I know why the caged bear sings.
posted by ZachsMind at 6:17 AM on October 29, 2003

I'm curious about the precedent this sets.

Strangely enough, the precedent already exists. According to legend, the black folk singer, Leadbelly, was pardoned on two different occasions due to his singing ability, although at least one of the pardon stories appears to be mythical. Ronald Reagan also pardoned Merle Haggard for a former burglary conviction. It's doubtful that tough-on-crime Ronald Reagan would have pardoned Haggard if he weren't a country & western singer popular with the so-called Reagan Democrats that the Gipper needed as swing voters.
posted by jonp72 at 1:04 PM on October 29, 2003