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Prisoners walk inside the prison colony where jailed feminist punk band Pussy Riot member Maria Alekhina is held, outside Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. The State Duma on Wednesday passed an amnesty bill which would release thousands of Russian prisoners including the jailed members of Pussy Riot. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)

Pussy Riot member released from prison following amnesty

MOSCOW – A jailed member of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot has been released from prison.

Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were sentenced to two years in prison for an impromptu performance at Moscow’s main cathedral in March 2012.

Pyotr Verzilov, Tolokonnikova’s husband, said Monday that Alekhina has been released from prison under an amnesty that allowed her earlier release.

Verzilov’s wife and Alekhina bandmate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova is expected to be released this week.

The Russian parliament passed an amnesty bill last week, allowing the release of thousands of inmates. Alekhina and Tolokonnikova qualify for amnesty because they have small children.

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