Jailed Pussy Riot Member Seeks Parole

Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who is serving a two-year sentence in a Russian prison camp, has asked to be released on parole.

Lawyer Irina Khrunova told Russia’s “Kommersant” daily that Tolokonnikova has asked a regional court that she be released on parole on several grounds, including the fact that she has a 5-year-old daughter.

The court is not expected to hold a hearing on her request until April at the earliest.

Tolokonnikova and a second band member, Maria Alyokhina, were jailed in October after being convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.

They had staged a protest performance against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral.

Both have been in custody since their arrest in March 2012.

Khrunova said Alyokhina also plans to ask for parole next week.


Based on reporting AFP and kommersant.ru

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