Pussy Riot verdict due after Putin leniency call

By Alex Stevenson

Russian punk band Pussy Riot will discover whether they face a lengthy prison sentence later, when the verdict on their dissenting protest in Moscow's Christ the Saviour cathedral is delivered.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, have been behind bars since singing provocative dissenting lyrics on the altar of one of Russia's holiest buildings in February.

The trio have claimed their imprisonment is a "clear and distinct sign that the whole country's freedom is being taken away".

But they could face up to seven years imprisonment for hooliganism. Two-thirds of Russians are Orthodox Christians and popular opinion inside Russia is thought to be broadly hostile to their protest movement.

Pussy Riot wore coloured balaclavas and short skirts during their brief concert inside the cathedral, where they called on the Virgin Mary to intercede to oust Vladimir Putin from power.

David Cameron secured a minor diplomatic victory when he persuaded the Russian president to speak out in favour of moderation during the Olympic Games.

The British prime minister's talks with Putin appeared to have yielded fruit after the Russian leader said he did not think the trio "should be judged so harshly".

"There is nothing good in this," Putin said after watching his favourite sport judo at London 2012 with the PM.

"I hope the court will come out with the right decision, a well-founded one," he said.

Yesterday ex-Beatle Paul McCartney became the latest in a long list of western musicians to call for leniency against Pussy Riot. Madonna, Peaches, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sting are also among those backing the band.

Police have erected barriers blocking off the street outside the courthouse, the Reuters news agency reported.

Judge Marina Syrova, who backs the prosecution in 90% of the cases she has heard, has been put under state protection after receiving threats from Pussy Riot supporters.