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Aug 17, 2012 By Mike Hilleary Photography by Misha Japaridze/AP Pussy Riot

Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich — the three members of Russian punk collective Pussy Riot were found guilty this morning and sentenced to two years in prison after being charged with “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility.” The three members were arrested back in February after performing a one-minute protest song “Our Lady, Chase Putin Out,” at Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral, denouncing both Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church.

According to The Guardian a shout of “Shame!” was yelled after the verdict was read. The defendants themselves reportedly smiled and laughed at the judgment. As activists outside the court were arrested and thrown into riot vans Judge Marina Syrova issued the argument that “the charge of hooliganism can be sustained when a defendant has expressed open disrespect and defiance against the communally expected norms and the tastes of others,” and that “the actions by the defendants has indeed degraded and insulted an large part of citizens, in this case religious citizens and fueled hatred and hostility from them and was therefore in violation of the Russian constitution.”

Since their arrest, the case against Pussy Riot has gained international attention, with the band gaining support from numerous figures in the music and political community.

A call of protest is being planned through various social media outlets. You can find out more at freepussyriot.org.