The female protesters face up to 7 years in prison for hooliganism.
According to the Lithuanian news website 15min.lt, only five people, including two people covering their faces with colorful masks, took part in the protest and they attracted the police's attention. Meanwhile the Russian ambassador seemed not to be annoyed by the action. After hearing loud demands to release the girls and chants "shame", Russia's Ambassador to Lithuania Vladimir Chkhivadze gave the thumbs up from the embassy's balcony. Meanwhile a member of staff of the embassy came out and was obviously irritated as, he said, the protesters were ruing a wedding taking place inside the embassy.
Police officers asked the protesters to move further from the embassy building and observe the 25-meter distance from the embassy based on existing regulations. Later, two protesters were detained as protesters must not wear face masks.
2012 04 23
Protesters demand release of Pussy Riot members outside Russian embassy in Vilnius
A group of people staged a protest outside the Russian embassy in Vilnius on Saturday, demanding release of five members of the Russian female punk group Pussy Riot arrested after their performance at the altar of the Christ the Savior Cathedral in downtown Moscow on 21 February, where they chanted "Holy Mother, Blessed Virgin, chase Putin out!"
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