A member of Pussy Riot, the Russian all-girl punk band, was denied parole after being jailed for criticizing Vladimir Putin, in spite of a little help from their friend, former Beatle Paul McCartney.

Pussy Riot got worldwide musical support from such stars as Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers when they were sentenced.

Paul McCartney sent a hand-written letter to Russian authorities which said “My personal belief is that further incarceration for Maria will be harmful for her and the situation as a whole, which, of course, is being watched by people all over the world. In the great tradition of fair-mindedness which the Russian people (many of whom are my friends) are famous for, I believe that you granting this request would send a very positive message to all the people who have followed this case."

A Russian court denied parole for Maria Alyokhina, who was sentenced to two years in prison last August for performing a song that criticized then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in an Orthodox cathedral.

Alyokhina was on hunger strike because she was not allowed to appear in person. The punkers defense team plan to appeal the decision by the Berezniki City Court, according to Russian media reports. The singer had to appear via teleconference at the court proceedings.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich, the other Pussy Riot members, also got two-year sentences in August. Samutsevich was freed from prison last October.

Alyokhina and bandmates Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich were sentenced to two years in prison last August after they motivated by religious contempt for staging a protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral in February 2012. Samutsevich was later freed on appeal, while Tolokonnikova's recent bid for parole was denied.

Madonna called for Pussy Riot's release at a Moscow show in August.

by Tony Sokol