October 20, 2026, 10:55 AMRSSRU

Pyotr Pavlensky

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Pyotr Pavlensky, born 1984, Moscow. Charges: Article 214 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Vandalism committed by a group of people, or motivated by hatred or animosity); “The case of Pyotr Pavlensky's "Freedom"”, opened on February 22, 2014. Sentence (May 18, 2016): one year and four months of restriction of liberty, to be released from punishment due to the expiry of the statute of…; previously convicted under Article 214 part 2, Russian Criminal Code; Article 243 part 1, Russian Criminal Code. Status: at large.

In brief

Moscow, Saint Petersburg · Moscow · Artists · Cases related to mass actions

Sentence

A fine in the amount of 500 thousand roubles (≈$7800 as of 09.11.2015)

Verdict June 7, 2016

Upheld October 25, 2016

Other verdicts

  • May 18, 2016 — one year and four months of restriction of liberty, to be released from punishment due to the expiry of the statute of limitations

Charges

Full wording of the charges

According to the investigation, he destroyed or damaged objects of cultural heritage in the form of the "Threat" action, setting fire to the door of the FSB building on Lubyanka Street

Latest event

February 27, 2017 — appeal

The court upheld the verdict.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Timeline

  1. · Appeal ruling

    upheld

  2. · Appeal ruling

    upheld

  3. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict

  4. · Persecution ends

  5. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict, released from serving the sentence

  6. · Persecution ends

Criminal case

The case of the "Threat" action by Pyotr Pavlensky

Case number
01-0326/2016

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

The case of Pyotr Pavlensky's "Fixation"

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

The case of Pyotr Pavlensky's "Freedom"

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

An artist famous for his radical actions. He was detained on 10 November 2013 for the action "Fixation" (Pavlensky nailed his own scrotum to the paving stones on Red Square). A case of hooliganism on the grounds of political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on the grounds of hatred or enmity against a social group was initiated. Detained on 23 February 2014 after a "Freedom" action in support of Ukraine near the Church of the Saviour-on-Blood in St. Petersburg. He was acquitted in an administrative case of petty hooliganism and fined 10,000 rubles (≈$280 as of 23.02.2014) in a case of violating the rules of holding a public event. In March, Pavlensky was searched as part of the criminal investigation. On 14 April 2014, the prosecution in the case of the "Fixation" action was terminated. The investigation in the "Freedom" action case repeatedly requested a psychiatric examination of Pavlensky, but the court refused. On 4 October 2014, formally charged with vandalism, was on his own recognisance. On 18 May 2016, sentenced to a year and four months of restriction of freedom, but released from punishment due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. On the night of 9 November 2015 Pavlensky was detained during the action "Threat", which consisted in setting fire to the door of the FSB building on Lubyanka. A case of vandalism motivated by ideological hatred was opened. He was sent to pre-trial detention centre. Later the charge was reclassified to destruction or damage to objects of cultural heritage. On 8 June he was sentenced to a fine of 500 thousand rubles (≈$7800 as of 09.11.2015).

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Persecution episodes
3

Other people prosecuted under Article 213 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code

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