Paul McCartney writes in support of Pussy Riot

Published May 23, 2013
Members of the all-girl punk band “Pussy Riot” (from L) Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova sitting in a glass-walled cage in Moscow, on October 10, 2012 . A Moscow court heard today the appeal of feminist punks Pussy Riot against their two-year prison camp sentence, days after President Vladimir Putin appeared to give his blessing to the verdict. — AFP Photo
Members of the all-girl punk band “Pussy Riot” (from L) Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova sitting in a glass-walled cage in Moscow, on October 10, 2012 . A Moscow court heard today the appeal of feminist punks Pussy Riot against their two-year prison camp sentence, days after President Vladimir Putin appeared to give his blessing to the verdict. — AFP Photo
Sir Paul McCartney performs on stage during his "Good Evening Europe" European Tour, his first since 2003, at Olympic Hall in Moscow, Russia. — AP Photo
Sir Paul McCartney performs on stage during his "Good Evening Europe" European Tour, his first since 2003, at Olympic Hall in Moscow, Russia. — AP Photo

MOSCOW: Beatles frontman Paul McCartney has asked a Russian judge to release members of the Pussy Riot punk group from prison.

In letters dated Monday and posted online by the group's supporters, McCartney asks for parole to be granted to Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, currently serving two-year sentences for an impromptu protest in Moscow's main cathedral.

McCartney wrote that he was making the request "in a spirit of friendship for my many Russian acquaintances who, like me, believe in treating people - all people, with compassion and kindness."

Alekhina went on hunger strike Wednesday in protest at not being allowed to attend her own parole hearing in Perm province. The judge in Mordovia province to whom McCartney addressed both letters denied Tolokonnikova parole last month.

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