Putin prayer punks jailed

TWO female punk rockers who prayed for the Virgin Mary to deliver Russia from Vladimir Putin in a Moscow cathedral have been ordered to remain in jail.

Five members of the protest band Pussy Riot, wearing ski masks and minis, took over the pulpit at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in late February to chant, “Mother Mary, drive Putin away.”

The women were rounded up by security guards. Two were later arrested and face up to seven years in jail on charges of hooliganism.

Putin, who won a third presidential term in a 4 March election, described the performance as “unpleasant for all believers”.