MOSCOW, July 10 - RAPSI. The European Court of Human Rights will hear as a priority the defense's appeal against the arrest of the Pussy Riot band members, who have been accused of disorderly conduct at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, their attorney Violetta Volkova wrote on Twitter.

She said the response to the band members' appeal against their illegal arrest was submitted in mid-June and received yesterday.

The group of five masked women performed a protest song titled, "Holy Sh*t," at the altar of the Christ the Savior Cathedral. 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 response to Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill's backing of then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's presidential election bid. Putin won a landslide victory in the election. The patriarch called the 12 years of Putin's rule a "miracle of God" during a televised meeting.

The defendants have been accused of disorderly conduct and face up to seven years in prison.