Eccentric artist Pavlensky arrested after alleged arson attempt at FSB headquarters

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10:23 09/11/2015

MOSCOW, November 9 (RAPSI) – Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky was arrested Monday night near the Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters after his alleged attempt to burn the doors of the building, RIA Novosti reports citing its own source in the law enforcement sphere.

According to the agency’s source, Pavlensky was arrested along with several other people who claim to be journalists that were invited to the artist’s performance.

There is no official confirmation of this event from law enforcement yet.

Pavlensky is known for a number of controversial performances.

In July 2012, he sewed up his mouth and stood at the Kazan Cathedral with a poster in support of Pussy Riot.

In May 2013, Pavlensky lay down on the ground in front of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly naked with barbed wire around his body.

In November 2013, also naked, Pavlensky nailed his scrotum to the Red Square pavement near the Lenin Mausoleum.

In October 2014 he staged an eccentric stunt on the roof of the Serbsky Mental Institution in Moscow by cutting off one of his earlobes.

Last February Pavlensky and his accomplices burned car tyres, waved Ukrainian flags and banged sheet metal with sticks in a show of solidarity with the anti-government protesters in Ukraine. The performance was held near the Church of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg.