Pussy Riot members may sue Russian government

The coming days may see Russia in the dock with two members of the feminist punk rock protest group, Pussy Riot, deciding to sue the government in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over the imprisonment imposed on them for a "punk prayer" protest at a Moscow cathedral in 2012.

Pavel Chikov, the head of the human rights legal group Agora, who is representing Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, confirmed that the duo have decided to sue the Russian government to set a precedent that Russians can speak freely on politically sensitive issues, even if the opinion is not supported by majority, The Guardian reported.

They have decided to argue that the investigation and prosecution violated their rights and seek damages up to 120,000 pounds in compensation and 10,000 pounds in court fees.

The two were arrested in March 2012 after they tried to perform Mother of God, Drive Putin Out inside Christ the Saviour cathedral near the Kremlin in February. They were convicted of hooliganism and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.

The duo was granted amnesty after 21 months in prison and pre-trial confinement.