Two members of the feminist punk group Pussy Riot have been released from prison under a new amnesty law in Russia. Nadia Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina had been jailed since last March for protesting Russian leader Vladimir Putin in an Orthodox cathedral. They were due to be released within the next few months after serving most of their two-year sentences. Speaking after her release earlier today, Alyokhina denounced the amnesty as a public relations stunt by Putin.

Maria Alyokhina: “Yes, I was keen to reject this amnesty, but the prison had received an order. That’s why I was brought here. Now I would like to meet human rights activists. And now I would like now to deal with the issue of prison. I would like to engage in human rights activity. Now I’m not afraid of anything anymore. Believe me.”

Russia’s former richest man was also released from prison on Friday. Mikhail Khodorkovsky served more than a decade behind bars before being pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was jailed after financing Putin’s opponents and was considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.