Three members of the punk band Pussy Riot have been found guilty of hooliganism, after performing a protest song in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral.
Each band member has received a two year sentence, beginning from the day of their arrest. They will serve this time in prison.
The trial, which took place this morning, was held at the Khamovnichesky Court in Moscow. The court stated: 'The women were motivated by religious enmity and hatred, and acted provocatively and in an insulting manner inside a religious building in the presence of a large number of believers.'
At midday today, the judge, Marina Syrova said: 'It was a small act but maybe not a very elegant act but they consider that it is the country which is sick. For them, individuals are not important, they consider that education in Russia is still in the Soviet mould.
'And that there is still cruelty in the country and that prison is a miniature of Russia itself.'
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Marina Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, stormed the cathedral in February wearing masks and sang a song urging the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin.
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