( CNN ) -- Russian lawmakers backed a sweeping amnesty law Wednesday that could see jailed members of the Pussy Riot punk protest band released early and arrested Greenpeace activists avoiding prison , the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported . The law received enough votes in favor in the Duma that it does not require President Vladimir Putin 's signature , Ria Novosti said . The amnesty , to mark the anniversary of the adoption of Russia 's post-Communist constitution in 1993 , will be applied to thousands of Russian prisoners , the agency reported . It is due to take effect on Thursday , according to the Russian government daily newspaper , Rossiyskaya Gazeta . Pussy Riot 's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina are serving two-year jail terms for their part in a performance critical of Putin , when he was Prime Minister . The performance was held at a Russian Orthodox cathedral in 2012 , and the musicians were found guilty of hooliganism . The women , set to complete their sentences in coming months , have young children and would therefore qualify for the amnesty , RIA Novosti said . In September , 30 people were arrested after a Greenpeace protest at an offshore oil platform in the Arctic and charged with hooliganism . They were told they would face trial . `` With the amnesty also extended to individuals on trial , however , the group may be free from prosecution and its foreign members be allowed to return home , '' RIA Novosti said . Russia 's record on human rights is in the spotlight as the country prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in February . CNN 's Olga Pavlova in Moscow and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London contributed to this report .
Russian lawmakers back sweeping amnesty law . Pussy Riot members , Greenpeace activists seen bound by law . Set to take effect December 19 -report . Russia 's human rights record in 2014 as Russia prepares for the Olympics in London .