Pussy Riot Found Guilty

In a controversial case that sparked international outrage over the past couple of months, the three members of feminist punk collective, Pussy Riot, were found guilty in Moscow on Friday afternoon.

Following a staged protest against Vladimir V. Putin, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, were sentenced to two years in prison, each on hooliganism charges. There was much speculation around the length of time the women would serve, as the maximum sentence under law (when acting as a group) is seven years.

The trio were arrested in February, following their guerilla performance of a "punk prayer" in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ The Saviour ahead of the Russian elections - which saw Putin elected for another term as President. The judge said in the verdict that they had offended religious believers and "committed hooliganism driven by religious hatred."

Tolokonnikova, Alekhina and Samutsevich stood handcuffed in the courtroom for three hours as the judge read the verdict, whilst demonstrators had gathered outside shouting "Free Pussy Riot!" Riot police arrested a number of protestors including former chess champion Gary Kasparov, who has recently become an active participant in the Russian political opposition.

Tolokonnikova's husband, Pyotr Verzilov, made a comment whilst leaving court that "Whatever Putin wants, Putin gets. That is the only thing to say."

Celebrities took to Twitter to express their concern, support and disbelief over the Russian court's decision.

Long live #PussyRiot! #Inspiration.Freedom lives within the fortress of our hearts.instagr.am/p/OceeermQUP/

— Santigold (@Santigold) August 17, 2012

There are not enough expletives to describe the injustice done to #PussyRiot today.My support is with them.Let's figure out what we can do.

— st vincent (@st_vincent) August 17, 2012

Outrageous #pussyriot prison verdict. Russian singers jailed just for speaking their mind?”

Gary Kasparov, the greatest mental athlete ever, arrested for protesting at the tyrannical 2 years #pussyriot sentence. Tsar Putin. Weep.

— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) August 17, 2012

— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) August 17, 2012

Bullshiiit that RT @tarassius: @reverend_makers Jon please let your followers to know @nme: #PussyRiot sentenced to two years each in jail.

— Reverend&TheMakers (@Reverend_Makers) August 17, 2012

Artists have a long history of challenging societies we live in. They provoke us. This is not a crime ht.ly/d3sT5 #pussyriot

— AmnestyNow (@AmnestyNow) August 17, 2012

Listen to new single here.