Paul McCartney calls for release of Pussy Riot members Paul McCartney. MOSCOW, May 23 (UPI) -- Paul McCartney called for the release of Pussy Riot members, jailed for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, in letters he sent to Russian officials. The former Beatle wrote a letter each in support of Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who, along with a third Pussy Riot member, were sentenced to two years in prison for performing a "punk prayer" against Russian President Vladimir Putin at a cathedral in Moscow in February 2012. The third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was granted a suspended term and was released in October 2012. "In the great tradition of fair-mindedness which the Russian people (many of whom are my friends) are famous for, I believe that you granting this request would send a very positive message to all the people who have followed this case," McCartney wrote in a letter supporting Alyokhina. Alyokhina declared a hunger strike Wednesday after she was denied a parole appeal hearing, RIA Novosti reported. "I have had a long relationship with the Russian people, and, with this in mind, I am making the following request in a spirit of friendship for my many Russian acquaintances who, like me, believe in treating people -- all people, with compassion and kindness," McCartney wrote regarding Tolokonnikova, as quoted by RIA Novosti Thursday.