Russian Court Hearing Pussy Riot Member's Parole Request

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova looks out from a holding cell during her court hearing on April 26.

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