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Pussy Riot: Russia prosecutors seek three years' jail | Pussy Riot: Russia prosecutors seek three years' jail |
(40 minutes later) | |
Russian prosecutors have asked for three years' prison for three women musicians accused of inciting religious hatred during a protest in a cathedral. | Russian prosecutors have asked for three years' prison for three women musicians accused of inciting religious hatred during a protest in a cathedral. |
The three members of the punk band Pussy Riot played a song attacking Russian leader Vladimir Putin in front of an altar on 21 February. | The three members of the punk band Pussy Riot played a song attacking Russian leader Vladimir Putin in front of an altar on 21 February. |
A prosecutor said they had "set themselves up against the Orthodox Christian world". | A prosecutor said they had "set themselves up against the Orthodox Christian world". |
Supporters of the women have condemned the case as disproportionate. | Supporters of the women have condemned the case as disproportionate. |
Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, could have faced a maximum sentence of seven years. | Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, could have faced a maximum sentence of seven years. |
They sought to justify their performance of the "punk prayer" by saying it was a reaction to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, publicly backing Mr Putin in elections. | They sought to justify their performance of the "punk prayer" by saying it was a reaction to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, publicly backing Mr Putin in elections. |
Last week, Mr Putin, who was re-elected president in March, called for leniency towards the women during a visit to London for the Olympic Games. | |
'Abuse of God' | |
"The actions of the accomplices clearly show religious hatred and enmity," state prosecutor Alexei Nikiforov said in closing arguments. | "The actions of the accomplices clearly show religious hatred and enmity," state prosecutor Alexei Nikiforov said in closing arguments. |
"Using swear words in a church is an abuse of God." | "Using swear words in a church is an abuse of God." |
Given the "severity" of the crime, he said, the "requisite punishment must be a real deprivation of freedom". | |
The appearance of Pussy Riot inside Christ the Saviour Cathedral and the ensuing chaotic scenes were captured on video. | |
Wearing their trademark coloured balaclavas, the women danced and sang a song which parodies a Christian prayer, imploring the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Mr Putin. | |
The song, which has an obscene chorus, also appears to mock Patriarch Kirill himself. | |
The prosecution of the women has caused concern both within Russia and abroad. |