Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, in comments ahead of his visit to France, says he sees no reason to keep two jailed Pussy Riot members in prison.
Medvedev told the AFP news agency and the "Le Figaro" daily that he "hated" what they had done.
But he said the women spent a "fairly long time" in preliminary detention and there was no need for further imprisonment.
Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are serving two-year prison sentences for a performance protesting against President Vladimir Putin in a Russian cathedral.
A third Pussy Riot member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was freed last month when a court suspended her sentence on appeal.
Medvedev begins a two-day visit to Paris on November 26.
He will hold talks with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Aurault and President Francois Hollande.
Medvedev told the AFP news agency and the "Le Figaro" daily that he "hated" what they had done.
But he said the women spent a "fairly long time" in preliminary detention and there was no need for further imprisonment.
Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are serving two-year prison sentences for a performance protesting against President Vladimir Putin in a Russian cathedral.
A third Pussy Riot member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was freed last month when a court suspended her sentence on appeal.
Medvedev begins a two-day visit to Paris on November 26.
He will hold talks with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Aurault and President Francois Hollande.