3 members of the Russian punk-band  Pussy Riot have been sentenced to 2 years each in prison.

It comes after they were found guilty of “hooliganism – motivated by religious hatred”.

The women were arrested after performing an anti-Putin song in the main Moscow cathedral

The sentence was handed down in a Moscow Courthouse that is surrounded by police and protestors.

They have also received support from Paul McCartney and Madonna in a case which is being seen as an attempt to silence dissent against the President.

Supporters of the band gathered in central Dublin earlier in a show of protest.

Opposition MP Dimitri Gudkov says jailing the women will only lead to more protests against Vladimir Putin.

While outside the court opinion was split over the verdict.