Pussy Riot appeal sent to Moscow City Court

MOSCOW, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Russia's Supreme Court referred an appeal by three members of the Pussy Riot punk group back to the Moscow City Court's presidium.

The sentences of Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich were referred to the panel of judges to be reviewed, the supreme court said on its website Tuesday.

Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova are serving two-year prison sentences for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for a performance against Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral in February 2012.

Samutsevich, was tried and released on appeal.

The Moscow court rejected an appeal of their sentences May 29, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.

Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova could be eligible for release under a proposed amnesty bill that went under consideration by the State Duma [lower house of the Russian Parliament] Tuesday. The bill would release from prison mothers of underage children, which Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova both have.

The amnesty bill would mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Russia constitution.