Two Pussy Riot members released from Russian jail

The two remaining imprisoned Pussy Riot members have been released early from their Russian jail sentences.

The news comes after Russia’s parliament passed President Putin’s recent amnesty bill earlier this week, with the two punk musicians among those with their sentences cut short as a result.

Both Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova have now been confirmed to have walked free.

According to BBC News, Alyokhina told Russian TV that the decision was simply a “PR stunt” and that she’d have preferred to have remained in jail.

The amnesty could also see around 1,300 people released from prison, 17,500 people relieved of non-custodial sentences and 6,000 criminal proceedings suspended. Recently jailed Greenpeace members, who were protesting oil drilling in the Arctic, may also be amongst those released.

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.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, had been named prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, was released last October.