Russian Orthodox Church asks for clemency for Pussy Riot The statement came a day before an appeal hearing and appeared to reflect a desire to put to an end to the case that has caused international outrage. But it was unclear whether the women, who were sentenced to two years last month, would offer a penitence sought by the church and how much leniency a court may show. In Sunday's statement, the church reaffirmed its condemnation of the women's raucous stunt, saying such actions "can't be left unpunished." But it added that if the women show "penitence and reconsideration of their action," their words "shouldn't be left unnoticed." Earlier this month, Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister, said that keeping them in prison any longer would be "unproductive" - a statement that encouraged hopes the appeals court could set them free. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, were arrested in March after dancing and high-kicking at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral as they pleaded with the Virgin Mary to save Russia from Vladimir Putin, who was elected to a third presidential term two weeks later. They said during their trial in August that they were protesting the Russian Orthodox Church's support for Putin and didn't intend to offend religious believers.