Pussy Riot guilty of hooliganism after cathedral protest

A Russian court has found punk group Pussy Riot guilty of hooliganism.

Hundreds of the group's supporters protested outside the court as the verdict was delivered to Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29.

Judge Marina Syrova said the women had "crudely undermined social order" during their "punk prayer" protest in Moscow's main cathedral in February.

The three women stormed the altar of Christ the Saviour Cathedral and sang a song asking the Virgin Mary to remove Vladimir Putin from power. Their impromptu performance was quickly broken up by cathedral authorities and they were arrested.

The judge said their actions were offensive to the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian Orthodox believers.

The women face up to seven years in prison.

Speaking ahead of today's court proceedings, defence lawyer Nikolai Polozov said the women had hoped to be acquitted but "are ready to continue to fight".

The feminist punk group have attracted high profile supporters, including Paul McCartney, Madonna and Björk.