Judges Reject Pussy Riot Appeal Against Conviction

Moscow’s highest court panel has rejected an appeal by three members of the punk band 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 Wednesday.

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

Photo: AP Photo

Trying to perform at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

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