Pussy Riot member seeking to have sentence reduced

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Jailed Pussy Riot Member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova Monday requested a sentence reduction.

Tolokonnikova, who was recently on a hunger strike because of conditions at the jail in Mordovia, was sentenced to two years in prison last year for participating in a "punk prayer" performance at a cathedral in Moscow, RIA Novosti reported.

Tolokonnikova filed an appeal with the Zubovo-Polyansky court, seeking a reduced sentence.

In August 2012, a Moscow court reduced the sentence Pussy Riot member Yekaterina Samutsevich after her lawyer argued a security guard at the cathedral stopped her from participating in the anti-government performance.

A hearing in Tolokonnikova's appeal has yet to be scheduled.