Russia's 8 Most Creative Political Protests

Mar 31, 2017 - 06:42 pm

Animal rights activists stage a performance during an anti-fur march in St. Petersburg, Oct. 20, 2013.Participants gathered to protest against the slaughtering of animals for the production of fur used in winter outfits and in the clothing industry, according to organizers. Alexander Demianchuk / Reuters

A woman leaving Russia's Health Ministry building steps carefully to avoid treading on jars containing dolls, left on the ministry steps in a protest by Greenpeace activists in Moscow, June 1, 2007. Greenpeace were marking International Children's day with a campaign against the treatment of children by Russia's government. Denis Sinyakov / Reuters

Members of the Kremlin-loyal youth organization "Young Russia" stage an anti-NATO protest in front of the U.S. embassy in Moscow, April 4, 2009. Thomas Peter / Reuters

Security guards detain Inna Shevchenko an activist from women's rights group Femen for staging a performance to support the Russian opposition groups and protest against violations during the parliamentary elections in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, Dec. 9, 2011. Denis Sinyakov / Reuters

Gay rights activist Vladislav Slavsky poses for a photograph in a construction pipe at the beach in Sochi, south western Russia, Oct. 21, 2013. During Soviet times, Sochi gained a reputation for tolerance but the city's once vibrant gay scene has been shrinking since Russia won the right to host the 2014 Winter Games. President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the spread of "gay propaganda" among minors. Thomas Peter / Reuters

An activist of Ukrainian group Femen stands in a flat as she prepares for an action at the presidential election in Moscow, March 3, 2012. Denis Sinyakov / Reuters

A policeman chases a supporter of the female punk band "Pussy Riot" jailed members while climbing on a fence enclosing the Turkish embassy near a court building in Moscow, Aug. 17, 2012. Three women from Russian punk band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in jail for their protest against President Vladimir Putin in a church, an outcome supporters described as the Kremlin leader's "personal revenge." Mikhail Voskresensky / Reuters

Artist Pyotr Pavlensky sits on the pavestones of Red Square during a protest action in front of the Kremlin wall in central Moscow, Nov. 10, 2013. Pavlensky nailed himself to the pavestones by his genitals as part of an art performance in protest of what he sees as apathy in contemporary Russian society and the possibility such indifference can lead eventually to a police state. The performance coincided with the day when the Interior Ministry honored its service members. Maxim Zmeyev / Reuters

Whether it’s caging themselves, dressing like mummies, bottling baby dolls, or nailing their testicles to Red Square, Russian political artists display special talent when it comes to turning heads and making headlines. The Moscow Times looks back at eight of the most creative political protests to hit Russia’s streets in the past decade.

Read more about: Protest , Contemporary art , Art