'These three girls are courageous': Madonna makes on-stage appeal for release of jailed Pussy Riot trio

Madonna has made a passionate appeal for the release of Russian punk band Pussy Riot on stage in Moscow.

The singer, 53, had the band's name written on her back as she stripped down to her bra during her MDNA tour in the city.

Her show of support last night came a few hours before the beleaguered group were due to appear in court at the final hearing today.

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Support: Madonna, pictured in Moscow on Monday, has called for the release of Pussy Riot

Show of support: Madonna has Pussy Riot written across her back on stage in Moscow last night

On stage at Moscow's Olympic Stadium, Madonna said: 'I know there are many sides to every story, and I mean no disrespect to the church or the government, but I think that these three girls - Masha, Katya, Nadya - I think that they have done something courageous.

'I know that everyone in this auditorium, if you are here as my fan, feels they have the right to be free.'

Madonna is one of a host of celebrites to call for the release of the group, who have been in jail for the past five months after they were refused bail following their February arrest.

Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, were accused of inciting religious hatred following a anti-Vladimir Putin performance at Moscow's main cathedral.

Freedom of speech: Madonna assumed her fans would be on the same side

Feisty: Madonna rips off her shirt as she makes her appeal

Their son urged the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin.

The trio said their protest was directed at Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, for publicly backing Putin in the elections.

However, church leaders maintain the use of swear words in the cathedral was 'an abuse of God'.

Putin said last week that the punk rockers had done 'nothing good' but should not be judged too harshly.

On trial: Pussy Riot members (L-R) Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Aliokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich in a glass cage in court today

But the prosecutor ignored pleas by the opposition and human rights groups not to seek jail terms over the profanity-laced protest and have urged the jury to sentence them to three years behind bars.

The band members see themselves as part of a protest movement that last winter organised the biggest demonstrations since the former KGB spy first rose to power in 2000, at times attracting crowds in Moscow of 100,000.

Other celebrities who have supported Pussy Riot included Sting, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Yoko Ono.

Ono wrote on Twitter: 'Mr Putin you are a wise man & don't need to fight with musicians & their friends.'

VIDEO: Madonna strips in Moscow in support of Pussy Riot... 

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