A painting, titled “Travesty,” by Konstantin Altunin featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in women’s undergarments has been seized by Russian police.
Reuters reports that “Travesty,” and several other paintings were seized because they were “of a distinctly pornographic character,” according to St. Petersburg deputy Vitaly Mironov. The paintings all depicte Russian lawmakers who supported the anti-gay propaganda law.
“Travesty” shows Putin in a pink slip and Medvedev is wearing a bra and underwear posing. The other pictures showed the head of the Russian Orthodox Church covered in tattoos and another showed Mironov combined with a rainbow flag.
The paintings were in the “Museum of Power,” which is little more than two rooms of an apartment, reports the Irish Times.
“Museum of Power” owner Alexander Donskoy was told his gallery was shut down and no other explanation. “This is an (illegal) seizure, Donskoy commented. “We have been given no formal documents banning us from operating and no receipt confirming our petty cash was seized.”
Reuters notes that Russia does have a law, carrying a one year prison term, against insulting authorities.
image: Wikimedia Commons
