Two members of punk band Pussy Riot have fled Russia after a police investigation was launched to track them down following their controversial performance in a church earlier this year (12).
Three members of the group, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, were found guilty of hooliganism charges on 17 August (12) after taking aim at President Vladimir Putin in song during a Moscow church service in February (12).
They were sentenced to two years behind bars for the crime, prompting detectives to launch a search for the other two Pussy Riot bandmates suspected of taking part in the incident - and now they have left the country in a bid to avoid prosecution.
A post written on the group's Twitter.com page appears to read, "In regard to the (police) pursuit, two of our members have successfully fled the country!
"They are recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new actions!" However, Tolokonnikova's husband, Pyotr Verzilov, has urged fans not to fear for their safety, telling Reuters, "They will keep a low profile for now. They are in a safe place beyond the reach of the Russian police".
The location of the pair remains unknown.
