MOSCOW (AP) — Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot who spent nearly two years in prison for their irreverent protest in Moscow’s main cathedral say they still want to topple President Vladimir Putin.
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina were released from prison this week under a broad amnesty. They and another member of the band were arrested after a brief unauthorized performance in Christ the Savior Cathedral in March 2012 denouncing Putin, who was on the verge of being elected to a new term.
The third band member was released months later on a suspended sentence.
Tolokonnikova and Alekhina told a news conference Friday that they want to drive Putin out of office and they lambasted the system of government he has built.
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