Two members of feminist punk group Pussy Riot are taking Russian government officials to the European Court of Human Rights (Echr) to demand compensation over their imprisonment.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina spent a total of 21 months behind bars on hooliganism charges following a protest at a church in Moscow in 2012.

They were freed in December (13) as part of a political amnesty, but now the singers are fighting to hold Russian authorities accountable at the Echr in France over allegations the investigation and prosecution violated their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.

They are demanding 120,000 Euros ($161,282/£94,872) each in compensation, plus an additional 10,000 Euros ($13,435/£7,903) for court costs.

Pavel Chikov from the human rights legal group Agora, which is representing the two stars, says, "They didn't get fair trial here in Russia so they want to get it finally in the European court of human rights.

"Plus they want this case to set a precedent that Russians can speak publicly on sensitive political issues, even if this speech is not supported by majority. This is a case about freedom of expression and fair trial first of all."