Pussy Riot Festival Goes Ahead

Estimated 1,500 people attended

St. Petersburg has held a music festival in support of the three jailed members of the Pussy Riot feminist punk band despite pressure to close it down.

The concert was authorized by the city authorities but was heavily guarded by police. According to the organizers' spokesperson Olga Kurnosova officials had pressed her to cancel Sunday's show.

Fire fighters attempted to close the Glavklub Hall venue ahead of the event saying safety rules had been broken.