Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina ends hunger strike

Jailed Pussy Riot member and political activist, Maria Alyokhina has put a stop to her hunger strike after over a week of going without eating.

Alyokhina took a hunger strike vow in a protest against a Russian court’s refusal to let her attend her own parole hearing last week, one which she subsequently lost. One of her bandmates’ husband, Pyotr Verzilov told reporters that she had been taken ill after seven days.

She had accused the prison authorities of trying to turn other inmates against her. But now, eleven days after the strike started, she’s satisfied that security has been increased and her well-being maintained.

In other news, HBO are set to broadcast a documentary about the protest movement, while Rough Trade are releasing a book.

Last year, the three members of the punk band were found guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” and were sentenced to two years in jail following the performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The song requested that the Virgin Mary drive Russian president Vladimir Putin from power.

Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, have been named prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. Samutsevich was released in October.

[via CMU]