3 members of a Russian feminist punk-rock group go on trial later for criticising Vladimir Putin.

The trio are accused of breaking into the main Orthodox cathedral in Russia and performing a “punk prayer” 2 weeks before the presidential election there.

They could be jailed for 7 years.

The women from the band ‘Pussy Riot’ face prison for an unsanctioned performance in which they entered the Christ the Saviour Cathedral inj Moscow wearing masks, ascended the altar and called on the Virgin Mary to “throw Putin out!”.

Maria Alyokhina, aged 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 were brought to Moscow’s Khamovniki court for the trial.

Supporters chanted “Girls, we’re with you!” and “Victory!” as the women who were each handcuffed by the wrist to a female officer were led from the police van into the courthouse.

Their protest offended many believers and enraged the head of the dominant Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill.