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Countries around the world have anger and disappointment over the two-year jail given to members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot. The three women were the punishment for protesting Russia’s president Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral. They also the church in Russia for what they see as its for Mr Putin. Their “punk ” called on the Virgin Mary to “Drive away Putin” and said the “Church the rotten dictators”. The judge said the women “committed an of hooliganism, a gross violation of public order showing disrespect for society". He added their actions were “sacrilegious” and “blasphemous”.

A European Union statement the two-year sentences as being "disproportionate" to the crime and that it to the intimidation of opposition activists in Russia. It read: "Together with the of the band members' mistreatment pre-trial detention and the reported irregularities of the trial, the puts a serious question mark over Russia's for international obligations of fair, transparent and independent process." Washington said: "While we understand the group's behaviour was to some, we have serious concerns about the way that these young women have been by the Russian judicial system." The Russian church has asked for a sentence.