Russian punk band Pussy Riot may have outspoken opinions on things, but unfortunately they don’t live in a country where they can speak their minds openly without threat of prosecution. Luckily for two members of the trio, they have fled the country to avoid further legal action.
The group made headlines back in March when they were arrested for performing an anti-Vladimir Putin “punk prayer” inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior altar. In the prayer, they urged the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of their current leader. Earlier this month, all three members were sentenced to two years in prison for the action, which drew quite a bit of attention and criticism from other countries.

According to the Guardian, a twitter account launched titled Pussy Riot Group stated, “In regard to the pursuit, two of our members have successfully fled the country! They are recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new actions.”

Defense lawyers for Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich have stated that all three band members are expected to appeal their sentences next week.

Tolokonnikova’s husband, Pyotr Verzilov, told Reuters, “Since the Moscow police said they are searching for them, they will keep a low profile for now. They are in a safe place beyond the reach of the Russian police.”

For his part, Putin, who was the subject of the incident that led to the trio’s arrest, stated before the band members were sentenced that he didn’t think they should be judged too harshly. Under Russian law, the three members could have faced up to seven years for “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.”
-loudwire.com