NOVOSIBIRSK, August 8 - RAPSI. A Novosibirsk resident has sued members of the Pussy Riot band and is seeking compensation for moral harm which was allegedly inflicted upon her by the performance at the Christ the Savior Cathedral, Margarita Sokolova, a representative of a Novosibirsk law firm which prepared the suit, told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

On February 21, five girls wearing brightly colored masks stormed the altar of the Christ the Savior Cathedral in central Moscow to perform a "punk prayer". A video of their performance was posted on the Internet and provoked public uproar.

The band members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich have remained in pretrial detention since their arrest in early March after an incident that some have lauded as a valid exercise of free speech, and others have lambasted as blasphemous.

Investigators charged the women with hooliganism; the prosecutor is demanding that they be sentenced to three years in prison.

"The actions of the Pussy Riot band members caused moral suffering to the woman, which she is seeking compensation for in court," Sokolova said.
The plaintiff was allegedly offended while watching the video on the Internet, Sokolova said.

"The woman has been visiting the church since childhood. She is a believer and considers the actions of the Pussy Riot members unacceptable," she said, adding that it was disrespect to the Orthodox faith that made the woman refer the matter to court.

The plaintiff is seeking a total of 30,000 rubles ($950) in compensation.