Solidarity protests have also begun outside of Russia. (Mark Burban, Creative Commons)

The protesters, masked, climbed the balcony of a building opposite the courthouse. They fired flares and shouted things like, “Freedom for Pussy Riot!” One even declared he would go on a hunger strike until Pussy Riot was released.

After seeing the demonstrators burst into song, police attempted to climb the scaffolding to detain the protesters. They could only secure the protesters to the metal so they would not fall. Finally, the protesters were subsequently removed by crane.

The case against Pussy Riot has thus far focused only on religion, rather than the political motives of the defendants.

Reach Executive Producer Cara Palmer here; follow her here.