MOSCOW — A Moscow judge today sentenced three members of the provocative punk band Pussy Riot to two years in prison each on hooliganism charges following a trial that has drawn international outrage as an emblem of Russia’s intolerance of dissent.

The trial sparked a wave of protests around the world in support of the feminist rockers, who have been dubbed prisoners of conscience by international rights group. Hundreds of supporters chanted “Russia without Putin!” amid a heavy police presence outside the courtroom.

The three were arrested in March after a guerrilla performance in Moscow’s main cathedral, high-kicking and dancing while singing a “punk prayer” pleading the Virgin Mary to save Russia from Vladimir Putin, who was elected to a third new term as Russia’s president two weeks later.

The judge rejected the women’s arguments that they were protesting the Orthodox Church’s support for Putin and didn’t want to hurt the feelings of believers.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich stood in handcuffs in a glass cage in the courtroom for three hours as the judge read the verdict.

The charges carried the maximum penalty of seven years in prison, although prosecutors had asked for a three-year sentence.

Putin had said the band members shouldn’t be judged too harshly, drawing expectations that the band members could be sentenced to the time they already have spent in custody and freed in courtroom.