Pussy Riot lose final court appeal

Moscow’s highest court has rejected an appeal by three members of Pussy Riot against their hooliganism conviction following a protest against Vladimir Putin.

Moscow City Court’s presidium upheld the verdict against the band last week. The decision was published today.

The band performed a “punk prayer” in Moscow’s main cathedral shortly before Mr Putin was elected to a third term, entreating the Virgin Mary to save Russia from him. The court said this offended religious believers and disturbed the peace.

Yekaterina Samutsevich, Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were given two-year sentences last August. Ms Samutsevich was released on appeal, but her conviction was not overturned.