Russian authorities went to an art gallery in St. Petersburg and confiscated a painting depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin in women's lingerie grooming the hair of a lingerie clad Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stating that the satirical painting was against the law, according to Reuters.
The painting was part of an exhibit entitled "The Rulers" by artist Konstantin Altunin. Most of the pieces were of political figures such as President Barack Obama in either sexually charged or politically charged situations, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Museum of Authority, in reality a small gallery in a flat, has been a supporter of Russia's gay community despite the government's new law prohibiting support for "non-traditional" lifestyles. One of the paintings that was confiscated depicted a prominent anti-gay rights politician in St. Petersburg, Vitaly Milonov, standing in front of a rainbow colored background. Milonov accompanied the police on the raid of the gallery, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The police also seized a painting showing the head of the Russian Orthodox Church shirtless with a tattoo covered body. The police did not specify what law the paintings broke but there is a law on the books that bans insulting public authorities; those convicted under it can face up to one year in prison, according to Reuters.
The owner of the gallery, Alexander Donskoy, told Reuters that he was given no explanation as to why the paintings were taken by the police. The police also shut down the gallery.
"This is an (illegal) seizure," Donskoy said. "We have been given no formal documents banning us from operating and no receipt confirming our petty cash was seized."
The St. Petersburg branch of the Interior Ministry put a statement up on their website giving a very cryptic explanation as to why the paintings were taken.
"Following an initial inspection, police seized four paintings that have been sent off for analysis, on the basis of which a procedural decision will be made," the statement said.
Donskoi has a history of trying to rile up the powers that be in Russia. After serving as mayor of the Arkhangelsk for two years he was charged with abuse of office as he mulled over a possible presidential run in 2008. After being convicted with a suspended sentence he opened a museum of erotica in Moscow and a museum glorifying the USSR featuring a replica of Lenin's corpse that looked like it was breathing, according to the Wall Street Journal.
"I'm very afraid in this situation," Donskoi said. "Because today the authorities can do whatever they want."
