Pussy Riot sues Russian government for 'human rights violations'

Pussy Riot has launched legal action the Russian government.

The band's Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova spent 21 months in jail after being found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after performing a protest song in a Moscow cathedral in 2012.

The duo are now seeking €120,000 (£95,000) in compensation, plus €10,000 (£8,000) in court fees, for alleged human rights violations.

They claim that the investigation and subsequent prosecution violated their rights and was in effect torture.

The action has been filed through the European Court of Human Rights and Pavel Chikov, the head of the human rights legal group Agora who are representing Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova, commented:

"Plus they want this case to set a precedent that Russians can speak publicly on sensitive political issues, even if this speech is not supported by majority. This is a case about freedom of expression and fair trial first of all."

The duo have stated that they will give away any potential compensation to human rights organisations.

Watch Pussy Riot's protest video below: