Court Upholds Prison Reprimands Against Pussy Riot Member

"Pussy Riot" member Maria Alyokhina

A court in Russia's Perm Province has upheld two of four prison reprimands against Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina.

The court ruled on February 8 that reprimands for getting up late and for trying to pass a letter to the European Court of Human Rights via her lawyer were legal.

That could block the possibility of Alyokhina's early release.

Two other reprimands, for getting up late and for rudeness toward a labor camp official, were dismissed.

Alyokhina is one of three Pussy Riot members sentenced for performing a song last year at a Moscow cathedral, protesting President Vladimir Putin's rule.

The three were convicted of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred."

Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are now serving two-year prison sentences.

A third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, received a suspended sentence.

Based on reporting by RIA-Novosti and ITAR-TASS