Two Pussy Riot members flee Russia

Two members of band who escaped arrest after February's protest in Moscow's main cathedral leave the country

guardian.co.uk, Associated Press,  Sunday 26 August 2012

A Pussy Riot protest performance in January: two activists have now fled
 Russia and are 'recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new protest actions'.
Photograph: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters

The Russian punk band Pussy Riot says two of its members who were being sought by police have left the country.

Five members of the feminist group took part in a provocative performance inside Moscow's main cathedral in February to protest against Vladimir Putin's rule and his relationship with the Russian Orthodox church.

The women wore their trademark balaclavas and only three were identified and arrested. After a controversial trial, they were sentenced on 17 August to two years inprison.

Days later, Moscow police said they were searching for the others, in what was seen as a warning to the group to stop its anti-Putin protests.

Pussy Riot tweeted on Sunday that the two activists had fled Russia and are "recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new protest actions".

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