Pussy Riot members Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova have walked out of a Russian prison following an amnesty granted by the Kremlin.

Alyokhina Tolokonnikova had been serving a two-year sentence for hooliganism. They were convicted in August 2012 for performing a protest song in a Russian Orthodox Christian cathedral against President Vladimir Putin.

The two were due for release in March 2014 but the Russian parliament pardoned them recently, as part of sweeping amnesty measures. At least 20,000 prisoners who include minors and pregnant mothers are to be pardoned. Charges against some Greenpeace activists are also set to be dropped.

Alyokhina told Russian television her views had not changed of Putin, labelling her release a PR excersise. The amnesty signed by Putin is widely seen as a publicity stunt to appease the west as Russia is set to host the upcoming Winter Olympics in February 2014.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner

Vladimir Putin