Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he sees no need to keep the Pussy Riot women in prison any further.

"Bearing in mind that they have spent a fairly long time in prison during the preliminary imprisonment, I believe they now understand what it's like to be in prison. In this sense, the state has demonstrated its punitive capabilities to them and explained to them that they need to behave appropriately in terms of criminal law and morals. For this reason, it seems to me there is no need for further imprisonment. However, it's my personal position," Medvedev said in an interview with Agence France-Presse and Figaro.

At the same time, he recalled that he has already stated his attitude to the group's work.

"I really don't like what these girls did, I really hate their public image. It's all a very bad thing from a moral viewpoint," Medvedev said.

Medvedev reiterated that there is a court ruling on this case.

"There is a separation of powers in Russia: there is judicial administration, there is executive administration (which includes the government), there is the president, and there is the parliament," the prime minister said.

Responding to a question as to whether the authorities in Russia can influence courts, Medvedev, in turn, asked the journalists if such a thing is possible in France, and the answer was "generally no."

"It's generally not possible here as well. It's a very good answer. Generally no. Of course, we have a right to express our position, but it seems to me that the farther the authorities (I reiterate, any authorities, executive, legislative, or even the president) are from the judicial authorities, the stricter our judicial administration will be," Medvedev said.