MOSCOW, August 22 - RAPSI. The Kuntsevsky District Court in Moscow will hold the preliminary hearings into two lawsuits against Pussy Riot members over their "punk prayer" in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in central Moscow on September 6. Both claims are for pain and suffering, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI) on Wednesday.

"One lawsuit was lodged by Novisibirsk resident Ivan Krasnitsky, and the other by Berdsk resident Yury Zadoy," according to the court's press secretary. She added that the claim amount in each lawsuit is 30,000 rubles ($939) and the hearing will be held behind closed doors as prescribed by law.

The court is presently considering three similar lawsuits, one of which was filed by Novosibirsk resident Irina Ruzankina and will be heard on September 7.

According to the press secretary, the lawsuits may be reviewed as a single proceeding.

On February 21, 2012, 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." Shortly thereafter, a video of the performance was uploaded on to the Internet and incited a public outcry. Pussy Riot members were sentenced to two years in prison on August 17.