Russia court rejects Pussy Riot member's appeal for freedom Tolokonnikova on Friday appealed against an April district court ruling not to grant her parole, arguing that the hearing had been marred by procedural violations. But the district court ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court in the republic of Mordovia, the Russian province known for its grim network of penal colonies where Tolokonnikova is imprisoned. Tolokonnikova, 23, who is due to be released in March, was one of three women who were given two-year jail terms for staging a "punk prayer" in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral. They said the irreverent performance was intended to highlight the Church's close ties with the Kremlin, although the stunt riled many Orthodox Russians. They were convicted in August for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. One was subsequently released with a suspended sentence. Pussy Riot's Maria Alekhina, who is in jail in Perm by the Urals mountains, was also denied parole earlier this week. Alekhina had appealed to a Perm regional court after a district court had turned down her bid for parole. The rulings come amid mounting international pressure to free the pair. Paul McCartney and Madonna were among over 100 leading musicians who signed an open letter backed by Amnesty International calling for their release. Both women have young children.