Rogozin tweets criticism of Madonna

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MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin used an abbreviated form of the Russian swear-word for "whore" in a tweet criticizing Madonna.

At her concert in Moscow this week, the U.S. pop star called on authorities to free three members of the punk rock group Pussy Riot, who staged a protest performance at a Moscow cathedral criticizing officials last February, the Moscow Times reported Thursday.

The three young women have been in police custody since early March and face up to seven years in prison if convicted of hooliganism. The defendants were charged after a performance at Christ the Savior Cathedral in which they allegedly criticized President Vladimir Putin and Kirill, the Russian Orthodox patriarch.

A verdict in their trial is expected next week.

Rogozin took to Twitter to tell Madonna she was out of line to praise the demonstrators and to urge her fans to pray for them.

"Every former w. who has aged wants to give lectures about morals, especially during tours and gigs abroad," Rogozin tweeted Wednesday.

The Times said the "w." or "whore" reference was to some of Madonna's sexually charged films and music videos.