video transcript

Members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot speak to media for the first time since they were jailed. Two band members are serving a two year sentence for a singing a song against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral. The pair were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. One band member said the entire incident was twisted by Russian state media. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) JAILED PUSSY RIOT MEMBER NADEZHDA TOLOKONNIKOVA, SAYING: "They (Russian media) did not show the song in full, they did not say that it was called 'Virgin Mary, throw Putin out!'. They presented our gesture as militant atheism. Naturally such interpretation is an extremely painful one for me because I feel scared when I'm called a militant atheist." Neither band member say they regret their actions, though. At least one of the women, who both have small children, has been denied an appeal for a defered sentence so she could take care of her child. The women are serving their sentences at separate facilities and complain of pitiless conditions of forced labour.