One of the jailed Russian punk group Pussy Riot has been taken to hospital on the seventh day of a hunger strike to protest at what she calls a persecution campaign.

Russia’s prime minister has said the women in the Pussy Riot punk band serving two-year prison sentences should be set free.

Yoko Ono awarded the Russian punk band Pussy Riot this year’s LennonOno grant for peace.

Two members of Russia’s anti-Kremlin punk band Pussy Riot have fled the country to avoid prosecution for staging a protest against President Vladimir Putin at a church altar, the band said yesterday.