BEREZNIKI (Perm Territory), May 23 (RAPSI) - The Berezniki City Court in the Perm Territory has denied Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina's request for parole, RIA Novosti reports on Thursday.
The hearing started this Thursday without lawyers or Alyokhina being present. Alyokhina protested yesterday against her not being delivered from the prison to the court.
She refused to take part in the hearing via a teleconference and has gone on a hunger strike. She also prohibited her defense lawyer to represent her in court.
However, today the judge assigned a public lawyer for the Pussy Riot member. Alyokhina’s lawyers have lodged a claim with the Perm Territory Court against the judge.
The appointed public lawyer, Yevgeny Bardin, filed a motion on his deassignment, but the judge dismissed it.
In February 2012, five young women wearing brightly colored balaclavas staged a "punk-style" prayer in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in central Moscow. An edited video of their performance was posted on the Internet and caused a public outcry.
In August 2012, the Khamovnichesky District Court in Moscow sentenced Alyokhina and two other Pussy Riot members - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich - to two years in a prison settlement for hooliganism.
In October 2012, the Moscow City Court changed Samutsevich's verdict to a suspended sentence and released her immediately, based on her new attorneys' argument that she was seized by security guards prior to reaching the altar.
Alyokhina's and Tolokonnikova's sentences were upheld.
In April, the Zubova Polyana District Court in Mordovia rejected Tolokonnikova's request for parole.
