Pussy Riot trial gets attention of Brit MP

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MOSCOW, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A member of the British parliament has flown to Moscow to observe the trial of members of a female rock band accused of criticizing President Vladimir Putin.

Kerry McCarthy, the Labour Party's foreign affairs representative, tweeted Monday about the progress of the trial of members of the punk rock band Pussy Riot, The Moscow Times reported. German and U.S. diplomats are also attending the trial.

Maria Alyokhina, 24, Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, are charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for a performance at Moscow's main cathedral.

On Monday, defense attorneys asked Judge Marina Syrova for the seventh time to recuse herself, accusing her of bias toward the prosecution. The attorney claims she has not allowed them to present testimony, has turned down all their appeals, and doesn't listen to them.

Judges in the Khamovnichesky District Court could rule before the end of the week. If convicted, the three women could face up to seven years in prison.

The case has drawn attention from Russian cultural figures and international celebrities. Putin, in London for the Olympics and a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron said he hoped the judge would be lenient.