Katerina Smutsvich, member of the Russian rock group "Pussy Riot" whose performers were accused of "hooliganism" after they sang a protest song against Russian President Putin in Moscow's main church, has been let out of prison by the appeals court.

The court accepted Smutsvich's claim that she did not break the law as the guard at the church entrance chased her away before the performance started.

The court sentenced her to two years probation instead of imprisonment, but denied the appeal of two other group members, upholding their two year sentence.