NYC mayor welcomes Pussy Riot to City Hall

bigstory.ap.org

“De Blasio, his wife Chirlane McCray and the musicians visited for about 30 minutes. A spokeswoman says the mayor commended them for “their bravery and courage.”

“The two were released in December after nearly two years in jail. They were convicted of hooliganism after they staged a protest in a Russian church.

“The women have also appeared on the talk show “The Colbert Report” and at an Amnesty International concert in Brooklyn. While on tour, they have been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin and political conditions in their homeland.”