Russia Introduces Jail Terms for 'Religious Offenders'

Russia on Tuesday passed a bill imposing jail terms of up to three years on those who offend religious believers after an anti-Vladimir Putin stunt by punk band Pussy Riot in a church polarized the predominantly Orthodox country last year.

According to the bill passed in a 308-to-2 final vote, "public actions expressing clear disrespect for society and committed with the goal of offending religious feelings of the faithful" would be punishable with jail terms of up to one year in prison and fines of up to 300,000 rubles ($9,200).

The same actions committed in churches and other places of worship would be punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 rubles.

Among other forms of punishment to be meted out for the transgressions are compulsory community service and forced labor.

The controversial bill was proposed after several members of rock band Pussy Riot belted out a "punk prayer" against strongman Putin in a landmark Orthodox cathedral last year.

Two Pussy Riot members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, are serving two years in prison after being convicted last August on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.