French singer Mireille Mathieu, who participated in the opening ceremony of the Spasskaya Tower festival in Moscow, claims that her message on the Russian air was censored. According to the artist, in her speech she tried to call on the authorities to show mercy to the members of the Pussy Riot group, but, unfortunately, her words did not get on the air.
The singer in Russia gave an interview to TV Center journalist Alexandra Glotova. She asked the singer about her opinion, as a believer, about the Pussy Riot action. Mireille Mathieu replied that she thinks the girls did not quite consciously do this, because the church is far from a place for demonstrations. This can be done in a different place and in a different way. The church is a holy and clean place for prayer. She also added that as a woman, artist and Christian, she is asking for forgiveness for these three young girls.
Later - already on the air, the singer's answer was as follows: “It seems to me that they are insane, I condemn their actions. The church is not the place for such actions. The Church has always been and will be a place where people come for light, for the cleansing of the soul. This is a holy place that must be respected, especially the Russian churches, you can feel such fervor and zeal in them."
After the interview was aired, accusations and ridicule from the French press began to pour on Mireille Mathieu, with the words that, allegedly, for her performances on Red Square, the artist managed to sing tightly with the Russian authorities.
Mireille Mathieu had to talk to the press, but she found the right words and explained herself. Then the French journalists turned to the representative of the TV Center Vladislav Shekoyan so that he could comment on this situation. He assured the French side that there were no words about forgiveness in the singer's interview.
However, it did not take long for Shekoyan to admit to Le Figaro reporters that the words of forgiveness were still present, but the journalist who interviewed simply cut them out of the recording. He also assured that the girl would be suspended from work, and the original recording of the interview would be found and would soon be released in full.