Watchdog

Prominent Russian gay rights activist Aleksei Kiselyov has reportedly been granted political asylum in Spain.

A fellow gay rights activist based in Moscow, Nikolai Alekseyev, said that Spain gave Kiselyov asylum and a five-year permanent resident permit.

Kiselyov participated in a protest against the reelection of President Vladimir Putin on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square in May 2012 that was violently dispersed by police.

Several activists who took part in the protest have been charged with organizing mass disorders.

Kiselyov told the group GayRussia on April 26 that he would return to Russia "only after Putin's dictatorship regime is gone."

Kiselyov also said Spain's decision shows it understood "the political nature of the events on Bolotnaya Square."

He is believed to be the first Russian activist to receive political asylum abroad in connection with the protest.

Based on reporting by gayrussia.ru and Interfax

A court in the Russian region of Mordovia is hearing a request for parole from Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, one of two members of the feminist performance-art group Pussy Riot.

They are serving two-year prison terms after being convicted in August for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred."

Tolokonnikova was present as the hearing opened on April 26.

The administration of the prison where Tolokonnikova is serving her sentence has asked the court to reject the parole request.

Prison officials filed a statement that said she has been cited for prison rules violations and expressed no remorse.

A group of Russian human rights activists wrote a statement supporting her request, which defense lawyers read at the hearing.

A second Pussy Riot member, Maria Alyokhina, is serving her term in the Perm region.

Based on reporting by Interfax and gazeta.ru