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Avdeyev Backs Art Curators

Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev spoke against convicting curators who organized the “Forbidden Art” exhibition Monday, saying that while the exhibit was scandalous, it does not amount to a criminal offense, Itar-Tass reported.

Yury Samodurov and Andrei Yerofeyev, organizers of the 2007 exhibition that featured artwork such as a painting of Jesus with the head of Mickey Mouse, are charged with inciting religious hatred, and prosecutors have asked that they be sentenced to three years in prison. A ruling is expected July 12. “I think Samodurov and Yerofeyev have not crossed the law’s ‘red line.’ It was a clumsy attempt to be shocking, but I think the Criminal Code should not be applied here,” Avdeyev said.

(MT)

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