Two members of Pussy Riot released from prison

Two members of feminist punk rock protest band Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, have been released from prison two months before their sentences were due to end.

Tolokonnikova, Alyokhina and third band member Yekaterina Samutsevich were convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” after singing in a Moscow Cathedral in protest against Russian president Vladimir Putin and the country’s political system, and sentenced to two years in prison.

Following a new amnesty law that allows mothers with young children to be freed from jail, the pair, who both have children, were released early.

However, both have described the decision as a publicity stunt ahead of the Sochi Winter Olympics due to be held in February.

Tolokonnikova told reporters: “They just put on another show ahead of the Olympics…Such is their big desire to prevent all European countries from boycotting our Russian Olympics.”

“But let us remember about all those people who are not talked about and are even forgotten about but who still need to come out of their jails as they don’t belong here,” she added.

Alyokhina told a Russian TV station: “If I had a choice, I would have stayed in prison without a doubt.

“Two months out of the almost two years that the girls have served is not much, so the effect of this amnesty for Maria and Nadezhda is not really felt,” Tolokonnikova’s husband told CNN.

Samutsevich had already been freed on probation in October 2012, while Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina remained in jail.

Samutsevich was granted release after her new lawyer told the court she never actually danced in front of the altar.

She was escorted away by security guards before she could join the other members of Pussy Riot in the performance.

Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina both plan to continue their protests against Putin.

“Nothing has changed in me since I went to prison. I became stronger and more resilient. I hope that now I will be able to change the situation in the country for the better,” Tolokonnikova told reporters. 

Vanessa Smart