Maria Alekhina,Pussy Riot Memebr Released From Prison Monday Dec 23,2013

Maria Alekhina was one of two band members who were granted amnesty last week, which was largely viewed as the Kremlin's attempt to soothe criticism of Russia's human rights records ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February.

Maria Alekhina was released from the prison colony outside the Volga river city of Nizhny Novgorod on Monday morning, said Irina Khrunova, her lawyer.

The amnesty was passed in a bill before the Russian parliament last week, and allowed for the release of thousands of inmates. The Pussy Riot members qualified because they both have small children

The release of the other, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, is pending.

Maria Alyokhina(25) and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova(24)were set free on Monday three months ahead of their scheduled release under a broad amnesty passed by the Russian Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the new Russian Constitution. 

The third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released on suspended sentence months after all three were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred and sentenced to two years in prison for the performance at Moscow's main cathedral in March 2012.

Note
 
In 2012, wearing fluorescent coloured balaclavas, they staged an unauthorised protest performance at the altar of Moscow’s historic Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. They were arrested and charged with crimes against the state, and faced up to seven years in prison.

The young women were sentenced to two years in prison for performing a musical punk prayer in Russia’s main Christian Orthodox Church. Two weeks before Vladimir Putin reclaimed presidency in March 2012, they prayed to Virgin Mary to “throw Putin out” at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. 

A third member of the punk group, Yekaterina Samutsevich, received a suspended sentence because she had not entered the sacred altar area of the church.