A jailed member of the punk band Pussy Riot lost her parole bid in a Russian court over her involvement in the August 2012 protest song her band sang in Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral. She remained defiant in court.

The ruling from the Supreme Court of the Mordovia region denied Nadezhda Tolokonnikova parole on Friday, instead upholding an earlier decision not to release her after nearly a year behind bars.

Tolokonnikova had hoped she could return home to care for her five-year-old daughter. Yet she appeared before the court in an unrepentant fashion, stating that prison would not correct her behavior.

“The time I served in prison has done nothing for my correction, therefore I see no sense in keeping me behind bars,” she told the court.

No ‘guilt’

She also refused to plead guilty, which might have won her favor in the court.

“I do not admit guilt and will not plead guilty. I have principles upon which I will stand,” she said from the cage, often used for defendants or convicts in Russian courts.

via Pussy Riot band member remains defiant in face of parole denial | News | DW.DE | 26.07.2013.