It's 2 Years behind Bars for Russia's Pussy Riot Trio

Hundreds of people from all over the world supported Pussy Riot on Friday. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Three members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years prison on Friday.

Earlier the same the day, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, found guilty of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred."

The three have already spent more than five months in pretrial detention, which, according to Russian legislation, equals ten months in prison, RIA Novosti has reminded. This means they will be due for release after another fourteen months in prison.

The three Pussy Riot members were detained after five masked women performed a song in Moscow's landmark Christ the Savior Cathedral in late February, speaking out against what they said was church support for Vladimir Putin's presidential election campaign.

The soldiers of the monument of the Soviet Army in downtown Bulgaria capital Sofia "woke up" Friday morning to wearing colorful hoods in sign of support of the three girls from Pussy Riot.

The trial of Pussy Riot members has raised international concern with many famous western rockers voicing support for the girls and asking for their release. In the most recent appeal, former Sex Pistols vocalist John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, dedicated his whole performance to Pussy Riot during the festival of punk bands, Rebellious, in Britain's Blackpool.

Amnesty International has recognized the three group members held in custody as prisoners of conscience.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!