The word subversive, the flogging horse of many artist statements, has found meaning again in Pussy Riot The ten-member band, who don multicolored balaclavas while performing, staged a “punk prayer” in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. The brief routine—abruptly stopped by security guards—lambasted Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church from the altar, an area where only members of the priesthood are permitted. Three have been charged with “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” and are now on trial.

Making no bones about their qualms, the song implored the Virgin Mary to become a feminist and cast out Putin, shouting the lines “Gay pride sent to Siberia in chains” and “Holy shit, shit, Lord’s shit!”, and referred to the patriarch of the Orthodox church as a “bitch.” The locale and lyrics reflect discomfort with the growing role of the church and the expanding power of government. Pussy Riot’s trial coincided with the arrest of numerous opposition figures on dubious grounds. As for the church, once pushed to the margins of communist society, its contemporary form has taken on a central role and is seen as wedded to the twelve-year Putin regime.

The unfortunate trio of imprisoned women have complained that authorities deny them adequate sleep and food. Seven months into their imprisonment, they face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if guilty. Many suspect that, with Putin’s influence, such a verdict is inevitable. Amnesty International, after all, has declared them political prisoners. However, only 25% of Russian support a prison sentence longer than six months, according to a Levada Center survey of Russians’ sentiments regarding the band. Views have warmed considerably of late. Outside of the east, Pete Townsend, Anthony Kiedis, and Sting among others have declared their support for the imprisoned women.

A translation of the lyrics is available in the video’s info section.