The Moscow prosecutor's office has sent its case against members of the all-female Pussy Riot punk band to court for trial.
The indictment accuses the three young women of inflicting "deep spiritual wounds" on Orthodox Christians as a result of their performance in Christ the Savior Cathedral that called for an end to Vladimir Putin’s rule in Russia.
A prosecutor's spokesman said on July 12 that the women had "colluded to commit an act of hooliganism for reasons of religious hatred and animosity against a social group."
The trio -- Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alekhina – have been in pre-trial detention since March.
Reports say they could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
The case has sparked a debate in Russia and elsewhere about the limits of free speech.
Based on reporting by AFP and ITAR-TASS