Tuesday, December 24, 2013 3:03am ET by  
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Pussy Riot member calls for Russia Winter Olympics boycott

Pussy Riot's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has called on countries to support a boycott of Russia's forthcoming Winter Olympics.

The musician and bandmate Maria Alyokhina were released early from jail sentences on Monday (December 23) as part of an amnesty move.

They were originally jailed alongside a third member in August 2012 for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" after playing a protest song in a Moscow cathedral.

All three members have now been released from prison and Tolokonnikova took her chance whilst speaking to reporters after her release to attack the Russian government.

The country is due to host the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February but many have called for a boycott due to Russia's tough laws on homosexuality.

The musician added weight to the cause, saying: "I'm calling for a boycott, for honesty. I'm calling [on Western governments] not to give in because of oil and gas deliveries from Russia."

Tolokonnikova meanwhile added that she thought the amnesty release of 20,000 prisoners across Russia was merely a "cosmetic measure".

 

 

 

 

 

Watch Pussy Riot's protest performance below: