You're reading: British MP criticizes Pussy Riot trial

Moscow - British MP Kerry McCarthy has said she was unpleasantly surprised by the course of the trial in the Pussy Riot case. 

Addressing reporters after Monday’s hearing, she said she couldn’t understand why the judge had refused to summon defense witnesses and experts.

She said she had been surprised by what she saw: all of the defense pleas were rejected and it was unclear how lawyers were able to defend the defendants under those circumstances.

British courts normally grant such pleas, the MP said.

McCarthy was surprised that the defendants had been refused confidential meetings with their lawyers.

The exhausting schedule of the hearing was also an unpleasant surprise to her.

McCarthy is a Member of Parliament and deputy foreign minister for human rights in Britain’s “shadow cabinet”. Her interpreter explained that she had come to Moscow to observe the Pussy Riot trial.