SARANSK, July 26 (RAPSI) - The Supreme Court of Republic of Mordovia upheld on Friday a previous ruling to reject Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova's request for parole, RAPSI reports from the court.
The court thus dismissed the appeal of Tolokonnikova and her attorneys and confirmed the ruling of the Zubova Polyana District Court. The defense will not appeal the court's decision, attorney Irina Khrunova said.
In February 2012, five young women wearing brightly colored balaclavas staged a punk rock prayer in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. 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 Tolokonnikova and two other Pussy Riot members - Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich - to two years in a prison settlement on charges of hooliganism.
In October 2012, the Moscow City Court suspended Samutsevich's sentence and released her immediately based on her new attorneys' argument that she had been seized by security guards prior to reaching the altar.
The sentences of Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were upheld.
In April 2013, the Zubova Polyana District Court in Mordovia rejected Tolokonnikova's request for parole. Alyokhina's request for parole was rejected by the Berezniki court on May 23.