Pyotr Pavlensky, the performance artist accused of damaging Russian cultural heritage by setting fire to the doors of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), has accused the FSB of illegally replacing the building’s doors in 2008, the Meduza news website reported on Tuesday.
Pavlensky’s lawyer, Olga Dinze, filed a complaint to the Prosecutor General Yury Chaika, asking him to hold FSB employees accountable for their illegal actions.
The complaint states that the FSB building in central Moscow was named an object of cultural heritage in 2007 and repairs to such buildings are only allowed with the authorization of the Federal Service for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. However, the doors were replaced in 2008 without such authorization.
Pavlensky is currently standing trial for setting fire to the FSB doors during his performance art action “Threat: The Burning Doors of Lubyanka” on Nov. 9, 2015.
On June 6, prosecutors asked that he be fined 1.5 million rubles ($23,000) for damaging Russian cultural heritage. The trial is supposed to conclude on June 8, however it is unclear whether these new allegations will alter the planned proceedings.
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.
