Russian court rejects parole for Pussy Riot member

A court in Russia's Urals on Thursday rejected a parole request from Pussy Riot punk group member Maria Alyokhina, who had launched a hunger strike in protest at the conditions of the hearing.

Judge Mikhail Shagalov of the court in Berezniki where Alyokhina is serving her two-year term for hooliganism ruled that her "request for parole release is to be denied," according to the Itar-TASS news agency. (AFP)