A Russian artist was arrested by the secret service after depicting prime minister Vladimir Putin as a woman.
Painter Alexander Shednov portrayed the former president in a tight, low-cut dress with long hair and large hoop earrings. He said the image was a protest against Putin - who fosters a reputation as a strongman - trying to return to the Kremlin for a third presidential term.
In the top left hand corner of the picture Shednov shows Putin saying: 'Oh I don't know - a third Presidential term? It is a bit too much....on the other hand, three is a charm.'
The artist had attempted to beam the portrait onto the main administrative building in Voronezh, his home city, on Russian Independence Day last week.
But Shednov's endeavour did not go down well with the FSB, Russia's intelligence agency. He was arrested by counter-intelligence officials, claims he was questioned for seven hours and beaten. Friends said his flat had also been searched and some of his paintings removed.
Shednov now faces a charge of inappropriate behaviour and is due before a court. Critics will see it as the latest evidence of intolerance by the authorities to harmless protests and freedom of expression in Russia.
Painter Alexander Shednov portrayed the former president in a tight, low-cut dress with long hair and large hoop earrings. He said the image was a protest against Putin - who fosters a reputation as a strongman - trying to return to the Kremlin for a third presidential term.
In the top left hand corner of the picture Shednov shows Putin saying: 'Oh I don't know - a third Presidential term? It is a bit too much....on the other hand, three is a charm.'
The artist had attempted to beam the portrait onto the main administrative building in Voronezh, his home city, on Russian Independence Day last week.
But Shednov's endeavour did not go down well with the FSB, Russia's intelligence agency. He was arrested by counter-intelligence officials, claims he was questioned for seven hours and beaten. Friends said his flat had also been searched and some of his paintings removed.
Shednov now faces a charge of inappropriate behaviour and is due before a court. Critics will see it as the latest evidence of intolerance by the authorities to harmless protests and freedom of expression in Russia.
-
-
-
-
- burukku16
- added this
-
It sounds like it was his attempt to beam the portrait onto the main administrative building in Voronezh that got him arrested, not the fact he painted the portrait in the first place.
A portrait which, incidentally, reminds me of that famous Aphex Twin cover.
-
Since the Russian revolution in 1917 politics in Russia has been laughable, its just a painting, Putin needs to chillax.
-
-
-
-
- Hendrix_Is_God
- 5 months ago
-
-
maybe they're mad cose Silvio Berlusconi keeps calling Putin now
-
How dare he sully the image of the great and mighty leader of Mother Russia! This man should be hanged for his crimes...
/Aphex Twin - Windowlicker.jpg)
