Pussy Riot appeal convictions, two members flee Russia

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The jailed members of Russian protest group Pussy Riot have appealed against their two-year prison sentence, while additional members of the organisation have reportedly fled the country.

Last month three members of the punk band were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” and were sentenced to two years in jail.

The trio had been the subject of a lengthy trial following the performance of a “punk prayer” in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The song requested that the Virgin Mary drive Russian president Vladimir Putin from power.

But now the band have appealed against the convictions, with a decision “expected within 10 days”. As well as this, The Guardian have reported that two unjailed members have left the country.

The band tweeted: “In regard to the pursuit, two of our members have successfully fled the country! They are recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new actions!”

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, have been named prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. They have become a cause celebre since their incarceration, with musicians including Madonna and Paul McCartney voicing their support.

You can watch the performance that led to their initial arrest below: