Russian punk-rock collective Pussy Riot have been convicted on charges of 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred' in their native country for speaking out against the re-election of Russian president Vladimir Putin. The verdict in the case was reported by Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
Each of the defendants was sentenced to two years in prison.
A protest has been taking place this morning at The Spire on Dublin's O'Connell Street in support of the band.
The three women - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyohina and Yekaterina Samutsevich - have been held since March for performing a 40 second anti-Putin song in Moscow's main cathedral. The trio were subsequently charged with hooliganism connected to religious hatred, showing the influence that the Russian Orthodox Church has over Russian society.
Prosecutors in the case were seeking three-year sentences for the band, provoking outrage across the globe. Numerous celebrities including Paul McCartney, Madonna, Yoko Ono and Pete Townshend have called for their release.
Putin, who began his third term as Russian president in May, was quoted as saying that Pussy Riot did "nothing good", but has also said that he hopes their punishment isn't too severe.
Lawyers for the band had stated throughout the case that the band would not receive a fair trial and the eventual outcome will be decided by the Kremlin.
Supporters of the Russian president say that the group should be jailed as blasphemers and outrage against the Church, while the Pussy Riot's supporters say that this is a watershed moment for the anti-State movement and the perceived crackdown by the government on any form of protest.
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