Pussy Riot Member Yekaterina Samutsevich Freed From Prison, But Her Bandmates Remain Behind Bars

Nearly two months after Pussy Riot member Yekaterina Samutsevich and two of her bandmates were sentenced to two years in prison for hooliganism, Samutsevich has been released from the Moscow prison, though the two other Pussy Riot members remain behind bars.

The three women were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred in August after the masked punk band gave a disruptive impromptu performance in a Russian Orthodox cathedral.

The band’s “punk prayer” strongly criticized growing ties between Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church, asking the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin. During the song, the women dressed in bright colors and balaclavas, while gesturing wildly.

On Wednesday, however, a Russian appeals court found that Samutsevich, 30, would be suspended because she did not actually take part in the performance. Samutsevich was thrown out of the cathedral before Pussy Riot could begin playing, according to CBS News.

While Samutsevich may be free from prison, however, CBS News claims that the Russian judicial system may attempt to “rehabilitate” Samutsevich outside of prison and place several restricitons on her personal freedom.

"We didn't mean to offend anyone," said Pussy Riot member Maria Alekhina at the appeals trial. "We went to the cathedral to express our protest against the joining of the political and spiritual elites."

At the same trial, lawyers for the other Pussy Riot members argued that their performance was not motivated by religious hatred and was in fact an entirely political gesture. The band members pointed to their repeated references to Vladimir Putin as proof that they were not attempting to incite religious hatred.

The church claims that it would appeal for a lighter sentence for the women if they repented for their actions. However, the women have made the claim that their performance was not motivated by religious hatred and thus they cannot repent for the charges against them.

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