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The Czech Republic has granted political asylum to a Russian Orthodox cleric who complained of persecution at home over his support for jailed anti-Putin punk rockers, the Pravo daily broadsheet said Friday.
“I have finally found peace and I can freely say what I think, without fearing persecution,” Sergei Baranov told the daily.
Baranov said he had asked Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill to defrock him in protest over the August 2012 jailing of the three punk rockers.
He added that the Russian secret service begun following him after his protest.
“I thank heartily the Czech Republic’s leading officials for having offered help to me in a difficult situation,” Baranov said.
The three Pussy Riot members were jailed over their stunt at a Moscow cathedral, where they performed a political protest song against President Vladimir Putin.
Two of the punk rockers are still in jail after a Russian court on Thursday rejected a request for early parole by hunger-striking band member Maria Alyokhina, serving a two-year sentence.