Bjork is the latest musician to come forward in defence of the Russian group Pussy Riot. In other news, Amnesty International will be inviting audience members to take action for the three members of the Russian punk band, currently standing trail in Moscow, at its famed Stand Up For Freedom comedy night at the Edinburgh Festival on Wednesday 15 August.

5* reviewed Edinburgh hit, The Boy With Tape On His Face will be joining the multi-talented Josie Long; Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer 2011 Hannibal Buress; star of Channel 4’s ‘Stand Up For the Week’ Sara Pascoe; sketch trio Pappy’s; winner of the Edinburgh if.comedy Award David O’Doherty; comedy cabaret sensation Frisky and Mannish; and new boy on the block Rob Beckett in the Stand Up For Freedom line-up. The show will be compered by Scottish comedy favourites Fred MacAulay and Susan Calman.

The Russian authorities arrested Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samutsevich in March and they have been held without bail ever since. If convicted on Friday, the women could face up to three years in prison. Amnesty has declared them prisoners of conscience.

The flagship Stand Up For Freedom gig, organised by the producers of the acclaimed Secret Policeman’s Ball, is at Venue150 at the EICC on Wednesday 15 August at 10pm. Tickets are £18/16 available now from www.venue150.com

Here in London, The Royal Court Theatre will join a global day of protest in solidarity with Moscow's feminist punk band Pussy Riot on Friday 17 August at 11am before the final verdict is delivered at 12pm (3pm Moscow time).

The testimonies of the three arrested members of the collective; Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich will be brought alive by actors in a rehearsed reading in the Royal Court's café bar.

Labour MP Kerry McCarthy will reflect on her experiences of being present in the courtroom during the trial and playwright E.V Crowe will give a short introduction. Crowe, whose play Hero opens at the Royal Court on 23 November first proposed the idea of creating an event dedicated to Pussy Riot after hearing of the arrest of three of their members. As well as Friday's event, she will curate an event in November at the Royal Court to explore and debate the ideas behind the movement.

The event is free and non-ticketed.