Member of Pussy Riot Denied Parole in Russia

Not appropriately penitent for the authorities

A Russian court denied parole on Friday to a member of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot who has already served almost half her sentence for staging an irreverent protest against Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral, RT reported.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23, began serving her two-year sentence last summer on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for last year's demonstration.

Defense lawyers had urged the court to release Tolokonnikova so that she can take care of her 5-year-old daughter.