John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono is to pay tribute to jailed Russian punk band Pussy Riot by handing them a special award in honour of her late husband.

The band attracted worldwide attention in February (12) after a provocative performance at a church in Moscow where they called upon the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of President Vladimir Putin.

Three members of the group - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich - were jailed for two years in August (12), sparking a campaign to free them which has been backed by stars including Madonna, Bjork, and Green Day.

Now Ono is to honour the punk stars' pro-freedom stance by presenting their lawyer, Violetta Volkova, with the biennial LennonOno Grant For Peace at an event in New York on Friday (21Sep).

Other public figures who will receive the award next month (Oct12) include U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie, author John Perkins, and late journalist Christopher Hitchens.