The controversial charges stemmed from a surprise performance at Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral earlier this year, at which the band's members -- Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 -- recited a "punk prayer" slamming Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Hollywood Reporter quotes a (rather verbose) verdict apparently read in court today: "The Pussy Riot singers colluded under unestablished circumstances, for the purpose of offensively violating public peace in a sign of flagrant disrespect for citizens.

"Intending to make the planned actions public and ensure that they drew public response, to draw the attention of the public to their illegal actions, and to communicate the expressed disrespect not only to the clergy and people in the church, but also to other citizens who were not present in the church at the time [of the punk prayer], but shared Orthodox traditions, [the accused] and their unidentified accomplice informed various media assistants and active bloggers on their action.

"It was a small act but maybe not a very elegant act but they consider that it is the country which is sick," judge Marina Sirovaya said, adding that the five months the trio have spent in detention since their arrests in March count toward the sentence.

"For them, individuals are not important, they consider that education in Russia is still in the Soviet mold. And that there is still cruelty in the country and that prison is a miniature of Russia itself."

Well, at least we know that punishment also still exists in the so-called “Soviet mold.” Just yesterday, McCartney came out in support of the three jailed women, writing in part on his website:

“I would like you to know that I very much hope the Russian authorities would support the principle of free speech for all their citizens and not feel that they have to punish you for your protest. Many people in the civilized world are allowed to voice their opinions and as long as they do not hurt anyone in doing so I believe this is the best way forward for all societies.

"I hope you can stay strong and believe that I and many others like me who believe in free speech will do everything in our power to support you and the idea of artistic freedom.”

Isn't Vladimir Putin a confessed Beatles fan? And hasn't McCartney toured Russia, even releasing a DVD from 2003? Awkward. Anyway, McCartney wasn’t the only Briton up in arms on Pussy Riot’s behalf. Protesters in London demonstrated outside the Russian Embassy as they awaited the verdict, according to the London Evening Standard.

The protest, which included people with signs saying "Pussy Riot: trial or showtrial?," was one of dozens taking place around the world in support of the band.

According to the Standard, prosecutors had asked for three-year sentences, down from the possible seven-year maximum and Putin himself had asked that the sentencing be not "too severe."

I just can’t believe this is going to end here. The Russian criminal justice system obviously wanted to make some kind of point, but the optics of this are terrible for the Russian government even with a relatively light sentence.

After all, the women's crime was apparently screaming, "Mother Mary, please drive Putin away," in a protest act in February inside the cathedral, one of Moscow's grandest houses of worship, according to CNN. The three were wearing masks and the church had worshippers present at the time, the site notes.

Still, here’s the scary question: how many others who weren’t lucky enough to be young and pretty and have enough of a platform of fame to attract superstar attention around the globe are languishing in Russian prisons? Or any other prison?

I bet Amnesty International has a pretty good idea. More to come.

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