An appeal against Pussy Riot's jail sentence is expected to be heard today, on October 1. Russian Orthodox Church waits for feminist punkers' repentance.

      The three women – Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina, and Ekaterina Samutsevich – were sentenced to two years in prison on charges of hooliganism in Moscow’s largest cathedral and inciting religious hatred. Today the band members are expected to attend the hearing, which will be broadcast online from Khamovnichesky Court at 7:00 GMT (11am local time).

      A spokesman for the Russian Orthodox church has said that the singers’ actions “can’t be left unpunished, no matter how you justify them.” He added, however, that "some words by the offenders of the law evidencing their repentance and rethinking of what their have done should be a possibility to step on the path of correction".

      It remains unclear whether the court will offer leniency if the singers repent.

      During their final testimonies in August, the women apologized before those whose feeling were hurt, but said they regret nothing.