video transcript

A group of men dressed in black clothing covered with religious emblems set a portrait of pop star Madonna on fire on Wednesday (August 8), after the singer urged Russia to free members of the punk band Pussy Riot at a concert in Moscow. The men, part of a group they call the Russian Orthodox Banner-bearers, said the stunt was in protest. They labeled the U.S. singer's actions as blasphemous to the church. Earlier in the week, Madonna demanded that Russia free the three group members on trial for bursting into a Russian Orthodox church and singing a protest against Vladimir Putin. Band members, who've spent 5 months in custody since their arrest, could face up to three years in jail.