MOSCOW, April 12 - RAPSI. The lawyer of Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina, who was sentenced for hooliganism in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral, has filed an appeal for her clients release on parole, Ekho Moskvy radio station reported.

"The news was announced by Pyotr Verzilov, the husband of another group member, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova," the radio station said.

Alyokhina is serving her sentence in the Berezniki prison settlement in the Perm Territory west of the Middle Urals.

Lawyer Yelena Darova had previously said that Alyokhina was waiting for the necessary documents from Moscow before deciding on appealing for parole, Ekho Moskvy said.

RIA Novosti is still trying to obtain comments from Darova and the Berezniki prison management.

In late February 2012, five young women wearing brightly colored balaclavas staged a "punk-style" prayer in the Christ the Savior Cathedral. An edited video of their performance was posted on the Internet and caused a public outcry.

In August 2012, the Khamovnichesky District Court sentenced Alyokhina and two other Pussy Riot members - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich - to two years in a prison settlement for hooliganism.

In October 2012, the Moscow City Court changed Samutsevich's verdict to a suspended sentence and released her immediately based on her new attorneys' argument that she was seized by security guards prior to reaching the altar and so did not actually take part in the punk prayer performance.

Alyokhina's and Tolokonnikova's sentences were upheld.