KIEV — Ukrainian topless feminist group Femen accused the police of planting explosives and a gun during a raid on their headquarters in Kiev headquarters in a bid to close their organization.
The Femen group specializes in shock bare-breast appearances to dramatize women's rights causes, mainly in the male-dominated hierarchies of Russia and its former Soviet allies.
President Vladimir Putin has been a particular target for Femen's protests since the prosecution of female punk group Pussy Riot last year.
A police statement in Kiev said a group of explosives experts were sent to Femen's headquarters in central Kiev on Tuesday after an anonymous call. Objects resembling a World War II pistol and grenade were found during a search, it said.
Officers at the scene said they had also found leaflets showing the profiles of Putin and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill pictured in snipers' cross-hairs.
Femen activists denounced the police finds as plants.
"They arrived on the scene and told us we had to get out of the building because there was a report of bombs. We left for two or three minutes. Then they called us back and said they had found these objects," said Anna Gutsol, one of Femen's main leaders.
"They say they found these things. But guns, narcotics and such like are not things that we have. It's absurd," she said, describing the police action as a "provocation" likely to lead to further action to curb Femen's activities.
"The mere fact that the police had a 'special group' there within seconds shows the whole thing was prepared," said Gutsol.
Femen's leaders and activists were questioned by police and the group's headquarters was sealed off. No one was immediately arrested or charged, though Gutsol said in a text message to journalists that police appeared to be preparing formally to arrest them.
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.
