( CNN ) -- The husband of one of the members of Russian punk rock band Pussy Riot imprisoned for hooliganism in Moscow is leading a chorus of condemnation after a conviction decried as an attack on free speech . Three young women , Nadezhda Tolokonnikova , Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich , were sentenced to two years in prison Friday after being convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred . They were arrested after performing a song critical of President Vladimir Putin in one of the Russian Orthodox Church 's most important cathedrals in February , a flash mob-style act that outraged many of the country 's faithful . Pussy Riot supporters vent anger at Twitter . Footage of the brief but provocative protest action , in which the band members clad in balaclavas screamed `` Mother Mary , please drive Putin away , '' inside Christ Savior Cathedral attracted wide attention after it was posted online . The sentence handed down to the trio was widely condemned by rights groups and senior international figures as disproportionate , although polling suggests many in Russia believe they had a fair trial . Pyotr Verzilov , husband of Tolokonnikova , told CNN 's Connect the World that legal experts had assured him while the women might have been arrested for their action elsewhere in the world , they would not have gone to prison for it . `` This would never happen in any Western country , it 's just not possible , '' he said . Verzilov said the authorities had crossed `` a certain line '' in arresting the women for a nonviolent protest act -- and that this was the reason for the international outcry over the case , with celebrities including Madonna backing their cause . `` Everyone was amazed that Putin decided to give this brutal sentence to girls for singing a protest song inside a church -- no one was expecting that , '' he said . He said there had been no time to say goodbye as his wife -- who is also mother to their young child -- was taken from the courtroom to start her prison term . Pussy Riot and Russia 's surreal 'justice ' `` Right after the girls heard the verdict , we only had a couple of glances , for five seconds , and that was it . She was led away by all these numerous guards in the court room and we could n't speak to each other , '' he said . Verzilov 's criticisms echo international concern that the sentence , although handed down by a court , may have been politically motivated and reflects a recent crackdown on free speech by Russia 's authorities . White House spokesman Josh Earnest also said the United States was `` disappointed '' by the verdict and sentence . `` While we understand the group 's behavior was offensive to some , we have serious concerns about the way that these young women have been treated by the Russian judicial system , '' he said . European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the court 's decision as `` deeply troubling . '' `` Together with the reports of the band members ' mistreatment during their pre-trial detention and the reported irregularities of the trial , it puts a serious question mark over Russia 's respect for international obligations of fair , transparent and independent legal process , '' she said . `` It also runs counter to Russia 's international obligations as regards to respect for freedom of expression . '' Urging Russia to reverse the sentence , Ashton said the case `` adds to the recent upsurge in politically motivated intimidation and prosecution of opposition activists in the Russian Federation , a trend that is of growing concern to the European Union . '' Rights group Amnesty International said that the court 's decision was `` a bitter blow for freedom of expression in the country '' and that the women were now `` prisoners of conscience . '' Amnesty believes that the women 's conduct `` was politically motivated , and that they were wrongfully prosecuted for what was a legitimate -- if potentially offensive -- protest action , '' it said in a statement . Human Rights Watch also said the women should never have been prosecuted for a hate crime . Inside the courtroom , Judge Marina Sirovaya found the three Pussy Riot members guilty of offending the churchgoers present -- through their actions , obscene language and their clothing -- and showing a lack of respect for the rules of the Orthodox Church . Polling by the Levada Center indicates that many people within Russia support the legal proceedings against the three women . Its poll , conducted before the sentence was handed down , found that 44 % of people surveyed thought the trial was fair , while 17 % thought it was n't fair and 39 % said they did n't know . Verzilov said the survey 's findings reflect the dominance of state media , particularly in areas of Russia where access to the Internet is limited . This made it easy to turn people against the band by portraying it as anti-Orthodox Christian , anti-Russian values and revolutionary , he said . Tolokonnikova , Alyokhina and Samutsevich have spent five months in pre-trial detention , which counts toward their two-year term . They are expected to appeal the court 's decision -- but Verzilov said he did not think they would request a presidential pardon . `` My wife has already answered this question -- 'it 's not us who should be asking Putin for pardon , it 's Putin who should be asking for a pardon from us and the whole country , ' '' he cites her as saying .
Pyotr Verzilov says no other Western nation would have jailed his wife for the protest act . The White House has serious concerns about the women 's treatment , a spokesmen says . Comment: They were arrested after performing an anti-Putin song in a cathedral as a protest act .