Russian activist attacked in Tver over ‘crucifixion’ protest

Two strangers attacked Russian activist Pavel Krisevich at the railway station in Tver, he told the student journal Doxa on Sunday, November 29.

“Two people came up to me while I was walking to the Tver train station. They said that I had offended their faith with my protest and demanded I apologize for it on my knees. When I brushed them off, they splashed zelyonka in my face,” Krisevich said, referring to a brilliant green antiseptic dye (commonly used in attacks on activists).

In conversation with MBX Media, Krisevich described his attackers as follows: “two ordinary, hooligan-like men, built like security forces officers, with beards, crooked teeth, and hats down over their eyes.” According to Krisevich, the two men ran to a black Range Rover after the attack and drove off.

Krisevich doesn’t plan to file a police report. “But it makes sense if the customer of this whole action is [the police] or the FSB. It’s just that next time there will be no conversations with such ‘well-wishers’,” he added.

• On November 5, Pavel Krisevich conducted a performance protest in support of political prisoners outside of the FSB headquarters in Moscow. During the protest, Krisevich was tied to a cross, replicating the image of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while four other activists in coats labeled “FSB” set fire to “criminal case files” at his feet. The day after the protest, he was sentenced to 15 days administrative arrest for disobeying police officers.
• On November 24, People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) announced its intention to expel Pavel Krisevich from its Economics Faculty over the protest.