Pussy Riot Goes Back to Jail

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The members of Pussy Riot shocked Russia when they performed their "Punk Prayer" in a Moscow church back in February 2012. The group was protesting the growing closeness between church and state under Russian President Vladimir Putin, but they became international celebrities when three of the members of the feminist, punk-rock protest group were arrested by the Russian authorities a few weeks later.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina were convicted of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" and sentenced to two years in prison. With just two months of their sentence left, Nadya and Masha—as they're known in Russia—were freed in a general amnesty by the Russian government. Most observers saw the move as an attempt to clean up Russia's image before the 2014 Winter Olympic games in Sochi rather than a change in policy toward Putin's opponents.

VICE correspondent Simon Ostrovsky met up with the band members in Moscow just a couple weeks after they were released to find out what they're doing with their newfound freedom.

To keep up with Simon's coverage of the Olympics on VICE News through February, follow him on Twitter: @simonostrovsky -



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