 The defendants pleaded not guilty , saying that they had not meant their protest to be offensive . " We sang part of the refrain ' Holy shit ' , " Tolokonnikova said in court . " I am sorry if I offended anyone with this . It is an idiomatic expression , related to the previous verse — about the fusion of Moscow patriarchy and the government . ' Holy shit ' is our evaluation of the situation in the country . This opinion is not blasphemy . " Their lawyers stated that the circumstances of the case had revived the Soviet @-@ era tradition of the show trial . On August 15 , 20 protesters wearing balaclavas gathered in support of Pussy Riot at Christ the Savior Cathedral , and held up placards reading " Blessed are the merciful " . Cathedral guards quickly moved against the protesters , trying to detain them and taking off their balaclavas . 
