MOSCOW (August 7, 2012)--Russian prosecutors are seeking a three-year sentence for each member of a feminist punk band for performing a stunt against Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral.

The three women are charged with hooliganism, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

Prosecutor Alexander Nikiforov said in court Tuesday that a three-year term would take into account the fact that two of the defendants are young mothers.

Members of the band say they did not mean to hurt anyone's religious feelings when they performed a "punk prayer" in Christ the Saviour cathedral in February against Putin's return to the Russian presidency.

Their case is part of a widening government crackdown on dissent that followed Putin's election in March and caused strong protests in Russia and abroad.