Pussy Riot trial: Putin urges leniency for Russia punks

2 August 2012 Last updated at 19:29 GMT

Pussy Riot trial: Putin urges leniency for Russia punks

Russian president Vladimir Putin says Russian punk trio Pussy Riot should not face tough sentencing for their protest against him in Moscow's main cathedral.

The female musicians are on trial over hooliganism charges after a video of their anti-Putin song appeared online.

"There is nothing good in what they did (but) I don't think they should be judged too severely," Mr Putin told reporters in London.

The musicians reject the charges in the case, which has divided Russia.

-snip-