Russian artist Pyotr Pavlensky at a trial held in the Tagansky District Court of Moscow, which considered the petition for his arrest, demanded to be accused of terrorism, Tvrain.ru reported.
Pavlensky asked the court his case to be qualified as terrorism instead of a preliminary accusation of vandalism, thus referring to the similar case of the so-called "Crimean terrorists - Ukrainian activists Oleh Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko sentenced for 20 and 10 years of imprisonment respectively due to accusation of "committing acts of terrorism" and "belonging to a terroristic community".
"Following the logic, what I have done is the same that did the Crimean terrorists as well as ACTO [Autonomous combat terrorist organization – Ed.], I want also to be accused of terrorism," Pavlensky said at the court.
Later he said he would remain silent as long as his demand is not met.
Recalling that November 9, Pyotr Pavlensky came to the central office of the Federal Security Service with a canister of gasoline; in just a few seconds, he poured wooden front door with gasoline and set it to fire. After 30 seconds, Pavlensky and the journalists that recorded the performance were detained by the security of the building. All of them were taken to one of the capital police station.
"Burning door of Lubyanka is a glove that society throws in the face of the terrorist threat. Federal Security Service operates by continuous terror and holds power over 146 million people," the artist explained.
Reportedly, regarding Pavlensky, a case of vandalism was prosecuted. Upon this article, the artist faces up to three years of imprisonment.
