On Wednesday the Moscow City Court was taking appeals against the sentencing of the three members of the punk band Pussy Riot, who received two years in a penal colony for their 'punk-prayer' in Christ the Savior Cathedral. During the hearing, the Court refused an appeal to redo the psycho-linguistic examination of the band members and an appeal to bring in experts to testify, reports RIA Novosti.

The appeal was submitted to the court by the group's lawyer, Violetta Volkova. It stated, in part, that the examination was carried out by incompetent professionals.

The conviction was based on the results of the examination, which reported that the crime was committed on the grounds of religious hatred. If the examination was done improperly, the entire verdict comes into question.

During the hearings at the Court, police arrested several people outside the courthouse, who were chanting slogans in support of Pussy Riot. According to witness reports, police arrested two activists wearing white raincoats who were speaking with reporters. Right now there are dozens of media representatives outside the court, each holding solitary pickets. The only form of unorganised protest allowed in Moscow.

Band members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhine and Ekaterina Samutsevich were sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a penal colony on August 17.