Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot have reportedly fled Russia in an attempt to evade arrest and, likely, a sentence similar to the two-year prison term handed down to their bandmates.

Pussy Riot tweeted on Sunday that the unidentified pair left with plans to recruit foreign feminists to continue protesting.

Three other members — Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova — made headlines for staging a "punk prayer" that blasted Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church inside an iconic Moscow cathedral.

In February, the activist band high-kicked and danced while asking the Virgin Mary to save Russia from Putin, who would be elected to a third term as Russia's president two weeks later.

Their controversial trial, which wrapped up on Aug. 17, resulted in two-year prison sentences for each of the women, who were all found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.

On Monday, an attorney for three jailed members of the Pussy Riot punk band said she has appealed the verdict to the Khamovniki district court.

Prosecutors had sought a three-year prison term, but the women could have faced a maximum of seven years in jail for the 40-second protest.

Amnesty International called the verdict "a bitter blow for freedom of expression" in Russia, adding it believes the decision was politically motivated.

The band's male and female supporters, who often wear the band's trademark balaclavas, have staged protests across Europe and North America to put pressure on Russia for its handling of the case. Many outside the courtroom were detained following the verdict.

Their defenders include celebrities like Madonna and Canadian artist Peaches.

Moscow police had maintained that they are searching for other members of Pussy Riot.