A 62-year-old psychiatric patient poured ink over an icon in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral on Sunday, saying he was motivated by the harsh treatment of three female punk rockers jailed for a profanity-laced performance in the cathedral.
According to a source in the Moscow police, the man was detained shortly after the stunt, which took place midday in the capital's largest place of worship, Interfax reported.
When questioned by investigators, the offender said he was receiving treatment at a psychiatric clinic and called his actions a protest against the Russian Orthodox Church and its attitude toward anti-Kremlin band Pussy Riot.
Moscow's Khamovnichesky District Court on Aug. 17 sentenced three Pussy Riot musicians to two years in prison on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred for performing a song decrying President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill.
Pussy Riot supporters have claimed government and church officials pressed the Khamovnichesky court judge into handing down prison sentences.
On Sunday afternoon, the police source identified the ink spiller as Yury Piotrovsky, a native of St. Petersburg who currently lives in Germany.
On what appears to be Piotrovsky's account on Wikipedia's Russian-language site, he is listed as having a residency permit to live in Germany, where he lectures at the Russian Cultural Center in Munich and teaches ballroom dancing and yoga.
It was not immediately clear which icon Piotrovsky chose to smear and how badly it was damaged.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
