The imprisoned members of Pussy Riot have had a rough time in prison, but Maria Alyokhina has nevertheless withdrawn her application for early release in order to show her solidarity with imprisoned bandmate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.
Alyokhina won't be applying to be let out early because Tolokonnikova wasn't granted the same chance. Alyokhina said [via The Hollywood Reporter/RIA Novosti], "I have no moral right to take part in this court hearing at a time when my friend and fellow convict Nadezhda Tolokonnikova does not have such opportunity."
We're not sure how likely it was that Alyokhina would have been granted early release, even if she had applied. After all, she's hardly been cooperative with authorities, having been hospitalized after staging a hunger strike. She previously asked to defer her sentence on the grounds that she needed to care for her five-year-old son, but had that request denied.
Tolokonnikova is reportedly staging another hunger strike. She was previously hospitalized due to complications from a past hunger strike.
The duo remain in jail following their political protest at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral early last year. Their political struggles have been chronicles with the documentary Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer.
Alyokhina won't be applying to be let out early because Tolokonnikova wasn't granted the same chance. Alyokhina said [via The Hollywood Reporter/RIA Novosti], "I have no moral right to take part in this court hearing at a time when my friend and fellow convict Nadezhda Tolokonnikova does not have such opportunity."
We're not sure how likely it was that Alyokhina would have been granted early release, even if she had applied. After all, she's hardly been cooperative with authorities, having been hospitalized after staging a hunger strike. She previously asked to defer her sentence on the grounds that she needed to care for her five-year-old son, but had that request denied.
Tolokonnikova is reportedly staging another hunger strike. She was previously hospitalized due to complications from a past hunger strike.
The duo remain in jail following their political protest at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral early last year. Their political struggles have been chronicles with the documentary Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer.
