The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. August 27, 2012 2 Pussy Riot Members Flee Russia After Bandmates' Sentences ------------------------------------------------------------ Two members of the Russia's dissident band Pussy Riot have fled the country to avoid prosecution for a peaceful protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin inside an Orthodox church. Three members of the group were sentenced to two years in prison for the protest earlier this month. A judge rejected the argument their act was a form of political protest, instead ruling it was motivated by religious hatred. The two members who fled the country took part in the initial protest but have not been jailed.