Radical Russian Orthodox Leader Imprisoned for Art Vandalism

Sep. 23, 2015

The leader of a radical Russian Orthodox group has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for vandalizing an art exhibition in Moscow this summer, a news report said Tuesday.

A Moscow city court on Tuesday found Dmitry “Enteo” Tsorionov, who heads the “God's Will” group, guilty of petty hooliganism for his organization's Aug. 14 attack on the Manezh exhibition center, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Tsorionov's supporters tried to disrupt the hearing by holding a loud prayer service in the courtroom, but gradually subsided after being reprimanded by a bailiff, the report said.

Two of Tsorionov's allies had previously been arrested and ordered to pay fines of 1,000 rubles ($15) apiece for their role in the attack. Another member of the group, Georgy Soldatov, has been sentenced to five days in jail, RIA Novosti reported.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

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 you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue