Religious leaders demand apology for show

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MOSCOW, March 22 (UPI) -- Russian religious leaders said Thursday a protest performance by the female punk band Pussy Riot at Moscow's largest cathedral was insulting to all believers.

Members of the Russian Interreligious Council released a statement asking members of the group "to come to senses and make public apologies," ITAR-Tass reported.

Clad in brightly colored ski masks, the band stood at the altar at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior Feb. 21 and performed a version of what they called a "punk prayer" titled "Holy [expletive]," which included the line "Holy Mother, Blessed Virgin, chase Putin out." The band was detained briefly after the performance, RIA Novosti reported.

The demonstration occurred less than a week before presidential elections in which Prime Minister Vladimir Putin won his bid for a third term as president.

Pussy Riot is known for its controversial public protests. The band made headlines in January after a performance in Red Square calling for "Revolt in Russia."

"The group with the indecent name insulted the feelings of believers of any creed, because the offense was committed at the place, where people are praying to the God," Andrei Glotser, representative of the Federation of Jewish Religious Communities in Russia, said Thursday.