 Though they were due for release in March , 2014 , on December 19 , 2013 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina would be freed under a general amnesty . Putin said the amnesty was not drafted with Pussy Riot in mind but to mark the 20th anniversary of Russia 's post @-@ Soviet constitution . The announcement of amnesty came during a Putin press conference in which he revealed plans to release several other high @-@ profile political prisoners in Russia , such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky and members of Greenpeace . 
