The Russian Orthodox Church yesterday called for members of the Pussy Riot punk band to repent, on the eve of an appeal court hearing they hope will quash their two-year jail sentences for performing an anti-Kremlin song in Moscow’s main cathedral.

The three women – who performed a “punk prayer” criticising Russian president Vladimir Putin’s close ties to the Russian Orthodox Church – were convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” by a district court on August 17th. The sentence was heavily criticised in the West. Vladimir Legoida, a senior church spokesman, said the band’s stunt “must not remain unpunished whatever the justification”, but said that any repentance, if expressed, should be taken into account.

“The church sincerely wishes for the repentance of those who desecrated a holy place, certainly it would benefit their souls. If any words of the convicts indicate repentance . . . we would wish that they are not left unnoticed and those who violated the law get a chance to mend their ways.” – (Reuters)