The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Friday expressed "disappointment" over a two-year sentence by a Russian district court on members of the punk band "Pussy Riot."

"I am deeply disappointed with the verdict of the Khamovnichesky District Court" and "this sentence is disproportionate," she said in a statement.

She believed that the case put "a serious question mark over Russia's respect for international obligations of fair, transparent, and independent legal process. It also runs counter to Russia's international obligations as regards respect for freedom of expression."

She urged the sentence over the three young women to be reviewed.