Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak has claimed that the Cossack who attacked members of punk band Pussy Riot with a whip earlier this week has been 'held accountable'.

The Russian group spent time in Sochi over the last week filming for their new music video, and during this time, they were detained and beaten by authorities.

Kozak, who yesterday insisted that Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina "came here with the purpose of provoking a conflict", would not specify whether the man was fined or arrested.

Earlier today, environmentalist Olga Noskovets and civil rights activist David Khakim were detained by authorities in Sochi.