Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova loses parole appeal
The Supreme Court of Republic of Mordovia upheld a previous ruling to reject Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova's request for parole. Tolokonnikova was sentenced to two years in prison along with two other punk group members for a protest performance at the altar of the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
Tolokonnikova, 23, who is currently serving a two-year prison sentence for her part in a protest art performance in a Moscow cathedral, had appealed against a lower court’s April decision to deny her parole.
Tolokonnikova stated during her parole hearing that she will not plead guilty to her hooliganism charge, and will continue to appeal her sentence.
"I will appeal my sentence to the last, up to the The Supreme Court of Russian Federation. I do not admit any guilt and will not do so. I have principles upon which I will stand," - Tolokonnikova said during the hearing.
The Supreme Court in the Russian republic of Mordovia upheld the decision not to grant her parole.
Tolokonnikova was one of five young women who staged a “punk prayer” in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in February 2012. Having donned brightly colored balaclavas, the women danced on the altar for about 40 seconds before they were apprehended by the church’s security guards.
