U.S. State Department Issues Warning About Madonna's Concerts In Russia

At last night's concert in Moscow, Madonna announced support for the jailed female punk band Pussy Riot, which is presently on trial for an anti-Putin concert staged in a church.

Pop singer Madonna donned the trademark balaclava worn by punk band Pussy Riot during a concert in Moscow to demand Russia free three group members on trial for bursting into a Russian Orthodox church and singing a protest against Vladimir Putin. The U.S. singer also stripped to a black bra to show the band's name written on her back in support of Pussy Riot's protest in Moscow's main cathedral against close links between the president and the clergy. "I know there are many side 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," Madonna said to loud cheers from the crowd at Moscow's Olympiysky Stadium on Tuesday night. "I pray for their freedom," she said.

Madonna has also threatened to denounce anti-gay bills in Russia, but that apparently did not happen last night.