Published Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Balaclavas appeared on statues around Belfast. (© Pacemaker)
Local activists from Amnesty International said they teamed up with the "guerrilla knitters of SOCK" - Secret Outside Crocheters and Knitters, who last week yarn-bombed Newcastle promenade.
They said the demonstration was a bid to show solidarity with the three balaclava-wearing members of the band who have been jailed for two years after being found guilty of hooliganism.
The charges were brought against the women over an unauthorised performance in Moscow's main cathedral, calling for the Virgin Mary to protect Russia against leader Vladimir Putin.
"The jailed Pussy Riot members are feeling the brute force of a state intent on throttling free speech," Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Programme Director at Amnesty International, said.
"The trial of these women was politically motivated and we are calling on the Russian authorities to overturn the guilty verdict and two-year jail sentence."
According to Amnesty, the demonstration was just one of many being staged in cities around the world in defence of free speech in Russia.