Pussy Riot band may be freed early (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Pussy Riot band may be freed early
5:59pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013
Members of Pussy Riot could be released from jail early
Russian punk band Pussy Riot may be facing an early release from prison after the country's prime minister called for them to be freed.
With their case coming up for appeal on October 1, Dmitry Medvedev said further prison time would be "unproductive".
The three women had already spent more than five months in jail when they were convicted in August of "hooliganism driven by religious hatred" and sentenced to two years in prison.
They were arrested after performing a raucous prayer inside Moscow's main cathedral asking Virgin Mary to save Russia from Vladimir Putin.
Their case has drawn protests around the world as it highlighted Mr Putin's intensifying crackdown on dissent, with celebrities such as Madonna and Sir Paul McCartney offering them their support.
