Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina freed from jail

Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina has been freed early from prison in Russia under an amnesty.

Alyokhina's lawyer confirmed her early release from a two-year sentence for a protest in a church against President Vladimir Putin.

"All the documents have been completed and signed," Piotr Zaikin told the RIA Novosti agency.

The release of fellow band member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova is also expected later today.

They were jailed in August 2012 for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" after performing a protest song in Moscow's main cathedral.

Their sentences were due to end in March 2014, but they have known since last week that their release was imminent under an amnesty agreed by the Russian parliament.