Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in 1997. In his 2002 interview with "Izvestia", Metropolitan Kirill called the allegations about his profiteering a political campaign against him. Alexander Pochinok who was the minister of taxes and levies (1999-2000), said in 2009 that Kirill had no involvement in the violations. Three female members of the feminist group Pussy Riot were arrested in March 2012 for performing a song in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow during which they called on the Virgin Mary to "chase Putin out". The women were arrested for hooliganism and were later sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The song contained swear words
Vladimir Putin presidential campaign, 2012 did not exclude that he will participate in the 2012 election. On 24 September 2011, at the United Russia party convention for the legislative elections, Medvedev announced that he would not seek re-election, and suggested that Vladimir Putin run for President again. On the same day, Putin announced his participation in the elections. On 27 November 2011, Luzhniki Stadium hosted the pre-election Conventon of the United Russia. In total, the Conventon was attended by 11 thousand participants, of which only 614 had the right to vote. Vladimir Putin was unanimously nominated as a presidential candidate from the United Russia. On