Russia: Pussy Riot's Tolokonnikova release imminent?

Russia: Pussy Riot's Tolokonnikova release imminent?

Following the unanimous passing of Russia's amnesty bill, the world's media is awaiting the release of Pussy Riot's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova from her prison hospital in Krasnoyarsk, Thursday. Tolokonnikova is currently in a tuberculosis hospital, where it was expected she would stay until her sentence ended. However, with the amnesty bill now in place, expectations of a near immediate release continue to grow.

Tolokonnikova's father was pessimistic when asked about the expectation of release said: "The chance is three percent. There are no chances in fact, as there are papers that need to be filled. They are not filled yet. The only thing is that Pyotr (Verzilov, husband of Tolokonnikova) is a magician and he bought all the necessary documents with himself, then she can be released right now."

Pyotr Verzilov, husband to Tolokonnikova, is more optimistic, having been given indications that a release could come as early as Friday, saying "there has been an instruction to avoid massive paperwork" and that "it's likely to be postponed until Friday or Saturday, more likely on Friday."