Pussy Riot member makes hunger strike protest

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Jailed Pussy Riot member and political activist, Maria Alyokhina has taken a hunger strike vow in a protest against a Russian court’s refusal to let her attend her own parole hearing.

A local court in Berezniki ruled that Alyokhina must stay in her jail cell for the hearing that will take place from Wednesday through to Thursday. Via video link, the protester said: ”Let the troika sitting here – the judge, the prosecutor and the colony employee – decide my fate”, before announcing she will begin a hunger strike in response.

Last year, three members of the punk band were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” and were sentenced to two years in jail following the performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The song requested that the Virgin Mary drive Russian president Vladimir Putin from power.

Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, have been named prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. Samutsevich was released in October.

[via The Guardian]