Pussy Riot members have been sentenced in absentia to up to 13 years over an anti-war music video and performance.

Prosecutor Vladimir Nagaitev has asked the court to sentence members of the punk group Pussy Riot in absentia to between nine and 14 years in prison over charges of spreading “fake news” about the Russian army (Sections “b” and “d” of Part 2, Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code), reports Mediazona.

The prosecutor requested 14 years’ imprisonment for Maria Alyokhina, 13 years for Tasya Pletner, and nine years each for Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot, and Alina Petrova.

The trial is taking place at Moscow’s Basmanny District Court. In the hearing, the prosecutor said the punk group members “oppose the current authorities.”

The case was triggered by the anti-war music video “Mama, Don’t Watch TV” and a performance at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. The prosecution argued that the video contained false information about Russian soldiers killing Ukrainian civilians. Regarding the performance, the prosecutor noted that Pletner “committed indecent actions” with a portrait of Vladimir Putin. During the performance, they urinated on it.

The Pussy Riot members do not admit guilt. “State institutions should be ready for criticism,” said a statement by Borisova that the defence presented in court.

The activists were declared wanted last year; afterwards, they were arrested in absentia. All of them left Russia after the war in Ukraine began.

In May, relatives of the accused had their homes searched. When officers came to one of Pletner’s close relatives, there were ten of them and they brought a sledgehammer. Burkot’s family had officers show up at five in the morning. Her relatives were forced face down on the floor, and her brother and sister were woken up by shouts of “Face in the pillow.”

13:31 Basmanny Court has sentenced the Pussy Riot members in absentia to between eight and 13 years in prison, writes Mediazona.

Maria Alyokhina received 13 years and 15 days’ imprisonment, Tasya Pletner—11 years, and Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot and Alina Petrova—eight years each.

The headline of this story was updated after the verdict was announced