Dmitry Abramov / Vedomosti

The Pussy Riot case has split society in Russia and further afield.

The Moscow Times

Pussy Riot Trial Opens to Packed Courtroom

Hundreds packed into a Moscow courtroom Monday for the start of the trial of three members of punk band Pussy Riot, whose detention for a provocative performance in Moscow's main cathedral has become a cause celebre in the West and split society in Russia.

In statements to the court, band member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova said through her lawyer that the group was wrong to hold a punk performance in a place of religious worship, calling it an "ethical error," according to Interfax.

Other members criticized the government and the church, saying their prosecution was taking place under pressure from church authorities.

Yekaterina Samutsevich said she saw the hooliganism charges brought against them as part of a repressive crackdown aimed at "spreading feelings of fear among those actively engaging with politics" in comments also read out by Volkova.

"I thought the Church loves all children, but the Church only loves children that love Putin," Maria Alyokina said, journalist Maria Antonova wrote social-networking site Twitter.