Two members of feminist movement Femen, which was founded in Ukraine, were arrested Thursday in Crimea's capital Simferopol after staging a topless demonstration against Russia's intervention in front of the regional parliament.

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One of the women was stopped by police within seconds, while another ran around shouting "Stop Putin's War", words which she also had emblazoned across her bare chest.

The second Femen protester was eventually detained and taken away in a van by security forces.

Some bystanders who witnessed the demonstration shouted "prostitutes!" at the women as they were taken away.

The nationalities of the two protesters were not immediately known.

Earlier, the Supreme Council of Crimea, voted to hold a referendum on whether the region should remain in Ukraine or become part of Russia. The body also passed a resolution on Thursday formally asking Vladimir Putin to take Crimea back into Russia.

Femen has a strong presence in France, where it has gained notoriety for its members’ topless demonstrations in protest of sexism, homophobia, prostitution and religion.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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