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Activists belonging to feminist group FEMEN have taken a chainsaw to a cross in Kiev, Ukraine, in support of Pussy Riot. The felled cross was in a park near Independence Square in the center of the city
13:35 GMT: The court denied another claim by the defense, which said that the defendants' actions cannot be considered as being carried out inside the Orthodox Church cathedral since the Christ the Savior Cathedral never belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church. The court said that the cathedral has all the features of an Orthodox cathedral, and must be viewed as such.
13:30 GMT: Co-chairs of the RPR-PARNAS political party Mikhail Kasyanov, Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Ryzhkov disavowed the way the Pussy Riot trial was prosecuted, calling it political and showcasing the flaws of Russia's political system, where the authorities fully control the courts, Interfax reports.
13:25 GMT: The court does not believe the defendants' statements that their actions were not motivated by religious hatred, and the testimony was provided to escape justice, the judge says.
13:20 GMT: The court does not agree with the defense that there was no motive of religious hatred behind the defendants' actions, the judge announces.
13:18 GMT: The investigation has not revealed who created the video posted on the Internet, but the information is irrelevant because the defendants were not accused of making the video, the judge says.
13:12 GMT: The court found the three members of Pussy Riot guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred and enmity, but the political charges were not revealed.
13:10 GMT: The court is recounting the defense's numerous claims of violations during the investigation process.
13:08 GMT: A policeman who was bitten by Russian politician Gary Kasparov while trying to detain him asked for medical help, Interfax reports. Some 30 protesters have been already arrested outside of the court where the Pussy Riot verdict is being read.
13:00 GMT: Nine people have been arrested in the southern Russian city of Samara, where some some 50 people organized a demonstration in support of Pussy Riot. The participants were carrying colorful balloons covered with balaclavas.
12:57 GMT: Hundreds of Pussy Riot supporters have gathered in downtown Paris. The demonstrators are holding banners with messages of support for the punk band.
12:55 GMT: A demonstration in support of Pussy Riot has taken place in Brussels in front of the Russian Embassy. Some 100 people participated in the event, organized by Amnesty International. Another demonstration is expected to take place after the sentence is announced.
12:45 GMT: The judge has begun to recount the materials seized from the three defendants during police searches. The items included profane lyrics, as well as videos and photographs indicating their participation in Pussy Riot.
12:42 GMT: While recounting the testimony of the victims, the judge said that the group's performance recalled attempts during the Soviet era to desecrate churches.
12:40 GMT: Pussy Riot supporters in the Russian city of Novosibirsk have organized an event in support of the punk band. Some 50 people took part in the protest, which was approved by local authorities.
12:37 GMT: Hundreds of Pussy Riot supporters have filled the narrow street where the court is located, chanting "Russia without Putin!" amid heavy police presence, the AP reports.
10:42 GMT: Feminist activist group FEMEN, responsible for cutting down a public cross in central Kiev and several protests around the world, issued another statement in support of Pussy Riot: "On the day of the sentencing, the FEMEN women's movement expresses its support and respect for its Russian colleagues from the group Pussy Riot. FEMENT activists have taken down a cross in solidarity with the victims of the Kremlin-Pope regime."
10:38 GMT: Russian opposition leaders Alexey Navalny and Sergey Udaltsov arrived at Khamovnichesky court in anticipation of the verdict. Udaltsov was detained by Moscow police when he tried to pass the police cordon and reach the judge.
9:10 GMT: Activists from Russia's Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) have organized a picket line in defense of the Russian Orthodox Church at the courthouse where the Pussy Riot case is to be decided today. Security was elevated as LDPR activists held signs that read "Hands off the Russian Orthodox Church" and "Don't soil the Saints with filth."
09:02 GMT: RT.com is back online following a massive DDoS attack, but we're still experiencing some technical difficulties. AntiLeaks has claimed responsibility for the attack, the same group responsible for downing WikiLeaks & Bambuser.
Uncencererd Video here http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video...
