NOVOSIBIRSK, August 13 - RAPSI. The Novosibirsk District Court dismissed an appeal by local artist Artyom Loskutov, who was fined for putting up icons in defense of Pussy Riot on Novosibirsk streets, the court told RIA Novosti on Monday.

Loskutov demanded that the magistrate court rescind its fine of 1,000 rubles ($31.4), the penalty handed down after finding him guilty of putting up the offensive images in July.

In March, images stylistically reminiscent of icons appeared on light boxes. The icon-esque images were in support of the arrested Pussy Riot band members. Particularly, one poster showed a haloed mother and child composition, with the woman wearing a Pussy Riot style stocking-mask. Law enforcement authorities identified Loskutov as the alleged vandal.

Three administrative cases based on offences against religion were initiated against Loskutov. The magistrate court acquitted Loskutov on one count for lack of evidence. Of the two remaining counts, Loskutov was found guilty and was fined a total of 1,000 rubles.

On February 21, five girls wearing brightly colored masks stormed the altar of downtown Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral to perform a protest song entitled, "Holy Sh*t." A video with their performance that was posted on the Internet incited a public uproar.

Group 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.