Medvedev: Pussy Riot Should Be Freed

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said two members of punk band Pussy Riot serving two-year terms for hooliganism should be freed.

Nadya Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina  were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after performing a protest song against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral.

They arrived at corrective labour camps last month in the Urals and central Russia.

"I would not put them in jail if I was a judge. I simply don't consider it right that they serve prison sentences," Medvedev was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

"They have already been in jail long enough."

Medvedev has taken a softer stance in the case than Putin

A Russian appeals court has upheld the prison-camp sentences for Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina, but unexpectedly ordered the release of a third member of the band, Yekaterina Samutsevich, on a suspended sentence.

Many observers saw the move as an attempt to drive a wedge between the trio.

The case has turned Pussy Riot into a cause celebre across the world, with stars including Madonna expressing solidarity and thousands of people – often wearing balaclavas that have become the band's symbol - holding protests against their conviction.

Human rights groups have denounced the case as proof that freedom of expression is being eroded in Russia.

Balaclava-wearing supporters of Pussy Riot in Paris in October

However, critics of Pussy Riot say their provocative performance in a place of worship hurt the religious feelings of many Russians.

Medvedev said he personally found the women "very unpleasant".

He added: "I have some doubts that this group that is now famous not only in our country has anything to do with music."

President Putin has taken a harder stance, joking about the women's sentences in a television documentary last month and saying ahead of their appeal the court had been right to jail them.

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