MOSCOW, June 20 – RAPSI. The Tagansky District Court in Moscow has left Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who has been accused of hooliganism, in custody until July 24.
The group of five masked women performed a protest song titled, "Holy Sh*t," at the altar of the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. The lyrics included lines such as, "Holy Mother, Blessed Virgin, Chase Putin Out!" The video was posted online and evoked a massive public outcry.
Pussy Riot said their performance was a reaction to Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill's backing of then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the run-up to his landslide March 4 election victory. The patriarch called the 12 years of Putin's rule a "miracle of God" at a televised meeting.
Following the performance, Tolokonnikova, Maria Elekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich were arrested. They are accused of hooliganism and face up to seven years in prison.