Hillary Clinton praises Pussy Riot as 'strong and brave young women'

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova , left, and Maria Alekhina of the Russian Punk band Pussy Riot speak during a press conference after the first German screening of their documentary film 'Pussy Vs. Putin' at a movie theatre in Munich, Germany, Sunday March 23, 2014. (AP / dpa, Tobias Hase)

WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton is praising Russian punk band Pussy Riot as "strong and brave young women" who "refuse to let their voices be silenced."

The former secretary of state posted a picture to her more than 1 million Twitter followers of her posing with Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina of the group.

Clinton and the band met while attending the Women in the World Summit in New York on Friday.

Clinton's tweet read: "Great to meet the strong & brave young women from #PussyRiot, who refuse to let their voices be silenced in #Russia."

Members of Pussy Riot have been arrested on several occasions for protesting against oppressive rule by the Russian government and criticizing President Vladimir Putin, including during the Winter Olympics in Sochi.