Two activists linked to the Russian protest group Pussy Riot have successfully appealed against their rejected asylum application and received shelter in Sweden, Swedish broadcaster SVT has reported.

Lusine Dzhanyan and Alexei Knedlyakovsky, who have two children, won their appeal of a 2018 ruling, where Swedish authorities said their situation did not justify asylum.

SVT said Ms Dzhanyan and Mr Knedlyakovsky sought asylum in the Scandinavian country a year earlier, claiming they had received death threats and experienced “politically motivated” harassment because of the group’s protests.

Ms Dzhanyan told SVT: “I am happy that my children will grow up in safety, especially considering the developments at home (in Russia).”

Pussy Riot came to prominence in 2012 when its members were imprisoned for staging a protest against the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow.

Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures Show all 9 1 /9 Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures Maria Alyokhina of Pussy Riot during a photocall for the Saatchi Gallery's Art Riot: Post-Soviet Actionism exhibition, in London PA Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures An exhibit depicting Pussy Riot on display at the Saatchi Gallery PA Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures A visitor looks at paintings called 'Pussy Icons', portraits of members of Pussy Riot EPA Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures Visitors looks at exhibits at the Saatchi Gallery EPA Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures A visitor passes a exhibit called 'History of Russia in Axes' by Vasiliy Slonov EPA Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures Visitors pass paintings during a press preview of 'Art Riot: Post-Soviet Actionism' EPA Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures A visitor looks at a painting of members of Pussy Riot during a press preview of 'Art Riot: Post-Soviet Actionism' at the Saatchi Gallery EPA Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures An assistant poses with 'Masks Show Series 2' artwork by The Blue Noses group AFP/Getty Pussy Riot at the Saatchi Gallery – in pictures An assistant poses with 'Pussy Riot Icon' artwork by Russian artist Artem Loskutov AFP/Getty

Mr Knedlyakovsky was jailed for 15 days in 2016 for hanging a cross on a statue depicting the head of the FSB, Russia’s security service.

Last year, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Russia for sentencing three Pussy Riot members to two years in a prison colony after they performed the protest song against Mr Putin in 2012.