Paul McCartney has written open letters to Russian officials in support of the Pussy Riot members who are still behind bars and seeking parole. Members of the Russian punk group were sentenced to two years hard time in August 2012 for breach of public order.
On behalf of Maria Alyokhina, who has announced that she is going on hunger strike, Macca argued "My personal belief is that further incarceration for Maria will be harmful for her and the situation as a whole, which, of course, is being watched by people all over the world."
"In the great tradition of fair-mindedness which the Russian people (many of whom are my friends) are famous for," the former Beatle continued, "I believe that you granting this request would send a very positive message to all the people who have followed this case."
McCartney also wrote a letter on behalf Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, the other incarcerated member of the group, who was denied parole last month.
A third member of the all girl group, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released on a suspended sentence last October.
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