Pussy Riot band member Maria Alyokhina appeals to a Russian court via video link on Wednesday.
Alyokhina is serving two years in prison for protesting in Moscow's main cathedral against President Vladimir Putin.
She was due to appear in person to appeal an earlier court decision not to grant her parole.
But last week she complained prison guards attacked her when trying to move her -- claims prison authorities have dismissed.
Russian journalist Masha Gessen says this is a flagship court case.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN JOURNALIST, MASHA GESSEN, SAYING:
"It's the case that began the crackdown. When they were arrested a year and a half ago it was really the first arrest in a long series of arrests of people who were engaged in peaceful protests."
Three Pussy Riot band members were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred last August.
They burst into this Moscow cathedral and performed a "punk prayer" asking the Virgin Mary
