Imprisoned Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina was denied parole for a second time Wednesday, a decision her lawyer called "legally unfounded," the RAPSI legal news agency reported.
Alyokhina was sentenced to two years in jail last August on hooliganism charges for participating in a "punk prayer" against Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency. The unauthorized performance by the balaclava-wearing punk rockers took place in Moscow's main cathedral in February 2012.
In May this year, her request for parole was denied by the Perm Region's Bereznikovsky Court after prison officials said she was "deliberately" breaking prison rules.
The Perm Regional Court upheld that decision Wednesday.
Alyokhina's lawyer, Irina Khrunova, was quoted by RAPSI as saying that "the prosecutors' position is legally unfounded." She pledged to appeal.
Another Pussy Riot member, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, was denied parole in April. She and Alyokhina are due to be released in early March next year, having been in custody since their arrest in March 2012.
The third convicted band member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released on probation last October.
Rights group Amnesty International condemned Wednesday's decision as a "further travesty of justice."
In a separate statement Tuesday, the London-based advocacy group said that more than 100 internationally acclaimed musicians had called on Russian authorities to release Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova. The open letter was signed by such celebrities as Sir Paul McCartney, Madonna, Radiohead and Sting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.