( Rolling Stone ) -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev showed sympathy for the imprisoned members of Pussy Riot at a regional meeting for the ruling United Russia party today , the Wall Street Journal reports . He maintained that their two-year prison sentence is excessive . `` The term is very strong . I would even say a terrible burden , '' said Medvedev in his televised response . `` I do n't want to replace the judge ... but the time they have already served is , in essence , more than enough to make them think about what happened , whether it was from their own stupidity or for other reasons . '' Medvedev also said that he believes a suspended sentence , including the six-plus months the women have already served , would have been enough . Eddie Van Halen Goes Bananas on Howard Stern : The Full Highlights . `` Prolonging their time in prison in connection to this case seems unproductive , '' he said . Still , Medvedev said he was `` sickened '' by the group 's acts and the `` hysteria '' they caused . Paul McCartney Voices Support for Jailed Russian Band Pussy Riot . The three imprisoned members of Pussy Riot have appealed their convictions , while other members of the group have fled Russia to escape arrest . The group recently released a video thanking Madonna , BjÃ¶rk , Green Day , the Red Hot Chili Peppers and other artists for their public support while they burned a poster of Russian president Vladimir Putin . See full story at RollingStone.com . Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone .
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has showed sympathy for the imprisoned members of Pussy Riot . He maintained that their two-year prison sentence is excessive . ` The case against them was brought by a group called ‘Mothers Against Violence’, which says they were involved in an anti-Putin protest outside Moscow’s main cathedral on February 12 last year when I would even say a terrible burden , '' he said .