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A spokesman for the Russian Orthodox church has spoken for the church's backing of the trial of punk band Pussy Riot in Moscow, and says it is willed by God.
Vsevolod Chaplin has spoken out in support of the current trial of three members of the band, who are currently facing seven years in jail for an anti-Vladimir Putin performance in Moscow's main cathedral. The three women have been in jail since videos of the February performance appeared on YouTube.
"It was a sin against God and it is God that is judging it," said Chaplin, a top official in the Russian Orthodox church. "And all Christians should know this."
Three members of the Russian punk band, Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevic, are currently on trial in Moscow for an incident in February, where the band staged a performance in the Moscow cathedral called Virgin Mary, Chase Putin Out! One Tuesday this week, nine Orthodox Christians who witnessed the performance were questioned in the Moscow court.
The women have issued an apology for the stunt, but this has not been accepted by Chaplin -or the church.
"Their words had a double meaning," Chaplin said, refusing the women's apology. "Any acceptance of a mistake is a step in the right direction. But they also insulted the patriarch, who is a symbol of the church.
"For me, as a priest and a Christian, what's important is that a sin was committed, that many people were hurt by these actions," Chaplin said "When symbols are overthrown, and others are put in their stead, people want to say: we've taken power here. All these acts around symbols are attempts to redistribute power."
BBC News previously reported that the women were locked behind bullet proof glass, as their crime had caused such anger in Russia. The are facing up to seven years in jail on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.
The three were said to have been asked questions on their education, Russian citizenship and even the dates of birth of their children.
Red Hot Chili Peppers and Franz Ferdinand are among the artists who have shown support for Pussy Riot, while Russia is said to be divided by the case - with many saying the women are being made example of by Putin's political party.
