Member of Russian dissident art group released from Czech custody
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 22 September 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Member of Russian dissident art group released from Czech custody, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58189dde11.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Last Updated: September 22, 2016
A founding member of the Russian dissident art collective Voina (War) has been released from custody in the Czech Republic.
The Prague City Court ruled on September 21 that Oleg Vorotnikov, who is wanted in Russia for alleged hooliganism, must be released.
Vorotnikov promised the judge not to leave Prague while a final decision on his possible extradition to Russia is made.
Vorotnikov's lawyer, Radim Kozub, said his client plans to ask for political asylum in the Czech Republic.
Vorotnikov was detained in Prague on September 18.
He fled Russia with his family in 2011 after authorities launched investigations against him, defining one of his group's public actions as hooliganism.
Vorotnikov and his family have lived in several European countries since then but failed to get political asylum in any of them.
Voina became famous across Russia and beyond for stunts like painting a giant phallus on a drawbridge facing the St. Petersburg headquarters of the Federal Security Service and overturning police cars.
Based on reporting by CTK and aktualne.cz
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
