Dmitry Medvedev calls for release of Pussy Riot The charges related to the performance of a politically charged "punk prayer" performed in Moscow's largest cathedral in February, calling on the Virgin Mary to drive then-prime minister Vladimir Putin out of power. The group's supporters say they are being punished for insulting Mr Putin and publicly challenging the growing power of the Orthodox Church hierarchy. The sentence passed in August was less than the three years requested by the prosecution, and much lighter than the eight year maximum the crime carries. Mr Medvedev's comments however have raised hopes that the three, whose case has been championed by celebrities from Madonna to Sir Paul McCartney, could be released when a court considers their appeal on October 1. One lawyer for the group accused Mr Medvedev, who stepped down as president in May, of hypocrisy. He had the possibility then as guarantor of the constitution to stop it. But he never even answered [our letters]," said Mark Feiglin. I don't believe him. "We can clearly see the real position of the authorities in the bullying federal media," he added, referring to a documentary aired by state television on Tuesday night that claimed Pussy Riot's performance in the cathedral had been masterminded by exiled oligarch Boris Berezovsky as part of a plot to undermine the state. Mr Putin, who is once again president, has tried to distanced himself from the case, saying earlier this week that he was aware of what is going on but did not want to get involved. But he added that said abuses committed against the Russian Orthodox Church and other faiths in the Soviet era meant "the state is obliged to protect the feelings of believers."