On December 23, 2013, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot was finally freed from prison, becoming the final member of the collective to win back her freedom. She was released from the Krasnoyarsk prison camp after having served almost two years in prison. Maria Alyokhina was freed earlier in the day, and Yekaterina Samutsevich was freed in October 2012 following an appeal.

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The two were released early under a Kremlin amnesty bill; however, in the wake of the release, executive director of The Voice Project Hunter Heaney released the following statement highly critical of the entire ordeal:

We all recognize that the whole amnesty program is a PR move by Putin, likely of course a bit of image clean up prior to the Olympics. Amnesty being ‘granted’ to two women put in prison for a 40 second song performance, who would have been released in a mere couple of months after missing nearly two years with their young children and loved ones is, of course, absurd. Last minute amnesty does not make up for that or the rule of law denied to so many others by the Putin regime and our thoughts are with them today. However, we are so happy that Nadya and Masha are safe, have come through this ordeal healthy and strong, and two young mothers will now be getting to see their children. A very large community of activists and donors around the world have worked hard to help to see that happen. In particular we thank all of you in this community who donated to keep them safe and monitored, supplied and visited, who refused to let this pass quietly and never stopped working for their safety and freedom.

-Hunter Heaney

Executive Director

The Voice Project

(via The Voice Project)