Russia activists confirm Pussy Riot member's complaint about jail conditions

Moscow: Russian activists say the penal colony where a member of the punk band Pussy Riot is imprisoned is violating rules covering detainee working conditions. The activists said there wasn’t enough evidence for a criminal investigation into the situation, but recommended Nadezhda Tolkonnikova be transferred elsewhere. [caption id=“attachment_1145783” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. AP image[/caption] Tolkonnikova has been hunger striking over the conditions. She’s serving two years at the women’s facility because of her band’s provocative protests against Russian leader Vladimir Putin. After visiting the central Russian prison, members of the Russian Presidential Human Rights Council confirmed Tolkonnikova’s complaints in reports Tuesday. They said many women worked 12 to 16 hours daily, contrary to the eight-hour legal norm, without days off. They also said the women were underpaid, earning around one-fifth the minimum wage. Prison authorities have dismissed Tolkonnikova’s allegations.