Two Pussy Riot activists wanted by police flee Russia
Supporters of the Russian punk band ‘Pussy Riot’ wear masks and hold placards demanding their freedom as they protest in front of of the Russian embassy in Warsaw on August 17, 2012.
Two Pussy Riot activists wanted by the police have left the country in order to recruit "foreign feminists to prepare new protest actions," the group announced on Twitter today, according to The Associated Press.
The band staged a protest concert inside Moscow's main Orthodox cathedral in February that angered Russia's authoritarian leadership and is believed to have triggered more anti-government demonstrations.
More from GlobalPost: Pussy Riot's hooliganism explained
Three members were arrested and handed a two-year jail sentence in a controversial August 17 trial, said AP.
Russian police say they are looking for more Pussy Riot activists, according to BBC's Ukrainian Service.
The band's campaign has gone international, with famous artists speaking out on their behalf (see Paul McCartney's letter of support here) and solidarity protests taking place around the globe ahead their recent trial.
The report of the activists' departure could not be immediately independently confirmed.
The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?