Were the sentences for Pussy Riot too harsh?

Three members of the Russian Punk band Pussy Riot have been given sentences of two years for hooliganism. The US, EU and Human rights groups have all said the sentences are disproportionate. 

The sentencing is due to Pussy Riot having played in protest against President Putin (then in his election campaign) a the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, one of the Orthodox Church's most sacred sites. Regardless of the reason for the protest many Orthodox Russians are outraged by the protest which is seen as sacrilege. Opinion polls in Russia have shown scant support for the band with only 6% sympathising.

Elsewhere in the world however there has been condemnation. The US state department said it is "concerned about both the verdict and the disproportionate sentences... and the negative impact on freedom of expression in Russia" while the German Chancellor was of the opinion that "Today's verdict calls into question Russia's commitment to protect these fundamental rights and freedoms."

Do you think the sentencing is too harsh? Since I expect most people will think so do you think they should never have been tried?

We dont yet have anything on pussy riot so I am going to highlight a piece by Free Speech Debate who we are working with instead http://freespeechdebate.com/en/case/why-pussy-riots-church-protest-was-mere-political-dissent/

if you read/write russian there is also a forum thread on our russian site