Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky has avoided a jail sentence despite being found guilty of vandalism by a Moscow court.
The activist received a sentence of one year and four months, which was then struck off as the statute of limitations for criminal responsibility had already expired.
The activist was charged with vandalism after setting alight a pile of tires on a St. Petersburg bridge on Feb. 23, 2014. The action, titled “Freedom,” was in support of the Euromaidan revolution in Ukraine, Pavlensky said.
Alongside the burning tires, the artist and his friends built an imitation barricade, beat drums and shouted Maidan slogans.
“Pavlensky was an active participant in a group that violated ethical and moral norms,” the court ruled. They also upheld claims that the bridge was culturally and historically valuable.
Pavlensky remains in detention to await a verdict on a second vandalism case. He received the second charge after setting fire to the door of the Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters in central Moscow.
Pavlensky has become notorious worldwide for his extreme performances protesting Kremlin policy. Previous actions have seen the artist slicing off part of his ear, wrapping himself in barbed wire while naked, and sewing his own mouth shut.
The 32-year-old has demanded that his performances be classed as acts of terrorism.
When prosecutors told him he would be tried on vandalism charges, the artist vowed to sit through the court hearings in silence without answering questions from the judges.
Pavlensky also paid three sex workers to attend court as his defense witnesses, telling the judge, “whether you like it or not, there is no difference between prostitutes, judges, prosecutors, teachers, directors or bureaucrats.”
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.
