Pussy Riot meets Julian Assange

Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot have visited Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

The pair, who were jailed in 2012 for protesting against Russian president Vladimir Putin, say they share a similar desire for freedom as the Wikileaks founder.

"We have more in common than we expected," says Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina. "I think it's basic universal things about freedom of expression, if we're talking about us, and freedom information, if we are talking about him."

Alyokhina and fellow band member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova captured the world's attention when they were arrested for performing an anti-Putin song in a church.

At the time Assange said there was unity between their oppression. Assange was granted asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Assange still insists accusations of sexual assault are part of a conspiracy to punish him for leaking classified government documents.

The Pussy Riot members are battling the Russian government and were vocal about Putin's early exit from the G20 summit in Australia.

"We think that Putin's behaviour at the end of the G20 summit was very performative and believe that world leaders like Putin are somehow taking this performative strategy that Pussy Riot championed some time ago," says Ms Tolokonnikova.

The two members say their opinions differed from Assange's on some topics, mainly political tactics.

But the biggest difference that remains is Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina are free to walk away.

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Pussy Riot meets Julian Assange