The release from prison of Pussy Riot members could alleviate recent tensions with the west.<br/> <br />Or at least, that's what Alexei Pushkov believes. He's the chairman of the international affairs committee of the Russian parliament's lower chamber.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CHAIRMAN OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IN RUSSIAN STATE DUMA ALEXEI PUSHKOV, SAYING:<br/> <br />"The potential for the anti-Russian activity in the West still remains very high. But this pardon and an amnesty removes certain aspects that were used against Russia in the negative way. So I think, let me put it this way, that the sphere of ideological and political grievances against Russia will shrink somewhat."<br/> <br />Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina were released Monday after a new amnesty law took effect.<br/> <br />Despite their release, the two punk rockers criticized the amnesty, calling it a propaganda stunt by President Vladimir Putin.<br/> <br />On the streets of Moscow, some call their amnesty a blasphemy.
