Russian artist allegedly fleeing to Denmark

Paintings depicting President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev as women in lingerie did not sit well with the Russian authorities

The Russian artist Konstantin Altunin is reportedly on his way to Denmark after fleeing Russia to avoid being punished in connection with his paintings that ridicule President Vladimir Putin and the prime minister, Dimity Medvedev.

According to the owner of the gallery that displays Altunin's paintings, the artist decided to leave his native St Petersburg after getting wind that the Russian police were looking to arrest him.

"After hearing that police were waiting at his home, Konstantin bought a ticket for Denmark and and as of Wednesday he is in France," the gallery owner, Alexander Donskoi, told AFP news service.

Putin and Medvedev in skirts
Russian police confiscated four of Altunin's paintings, including one that depicts Putin and Medvedev as women in lingerie with visible cleavage.

"We are accused of extremism. Police recommended us not to make a noise about this incident ahead of the G20, but it is scandalous, art has nothing to do with politics," Donskoi told AFP.

Donskoi also said that the police had shut down his gallery with no explanation and seized cash in addition to taking the paintings.

In addition to the painting depicting Putin in lingerie playing with Medvedev’s hair, another painting shows Putin with a halo and a third shows Vitaly Milonov, St Petersburg’s legislative assembly deputy and a key supporter of Russia’s recently-passed anti-gay laws, standing in front of the rainbow-coloured Gay Pride flag.

"We received information from a citizen that the images in the museum broke the law," Vyacheslav Stepchenko, a St Petersburg police spokesperson, told AFP. "Police confiscated four paintings and currently experts are examining them."

 

Anti-gay, anti-state laws
Aside from the recently-passed controversial anti-gay laws, there are also laws in Russia that prohibit insulting state authorities. The police did not specify which of the controversial laws that Altunin’s work had violated.

The Guardian newspaper reported that Altunin was on his way to France, where he has held exhibits before, perhaps stopping there before continuing on to Copenhagen.

St Petersburg, which is due to host world leaders at the G20 summit next week, was one of the first Russian cities to introduce anti-gay laws.

The painting of Putin and Medvedev in women's underwear can be viewed here. 

TOP STORIES

  • Young Copenhageners supply study grants by selling cocaine

    Young Copenhageners supply study grants by selling cocaine

    In recent years, the spread of cocaine has accelerated. The drug is easily accessible and not only reserved for wealthy party heads. Copenhagen Police have just arrested ten young people and charged them with reselling cocaine

  • 5 Mistakes I Made When I Moved to Denmark

    5 Mistakes I Made When I Moved to Denmark

    Here are five mistakes I made that helped me understand that belonging isn’t a strategy—it’s a practice. This isn’t a story of struggle—it’s a reflection on growth, told through the lens of emotional intelligence.

  • Analysis shows that many students from Bangladesh are enrolled in Danish universities

    Analysis shows that many students from Bangladesh are enrolled in Danish universities

    Earlier this year, the Danish government changed the law on access for people from third world countries to the Danish labor market. Yet, there may still be a shortcut that goes through universities

  • Danish Flower company accused of labor abuse in Türkiye

    Danish Flower company accused of labor abuse in Türkiye

    Queen Company, a Denmark-origin flower producer with pristine sustainability credentials, is under fire for alleged labor rights violations at its Turkish operation, located in Dikili, İzmir. Workers in the large greenhouse facility have been calling decent work conditions for weeks. The Copenhagen Post gathered testimonies from the workers to better understand the situation

  • Advice for expats: Navigating Life as an International in Denmark

    Advice for expats: Navigating Life as an International in Denmark

    Beginning this month, Expat Counselling will be contributing a monthly article to The Copenhagen Post, offering guidance, tools, and reflections on the emotional and social aspects of international life in Denmark. The first column is about Strategies for emotional resilience

  • New agreement criticized for not attracting enough internationals

    New agreement criticized for not attracting enough internationals

    Several mayors and business leaders across Denmark are not satisfied with the agreement that the government, the trade union movement and employers made last week. More internationals are needed than the agreement provides for

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • “It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

    “It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

    Describing herself as a “DEI poster child,” being queer, neurodivergent and an international in Denmark didn’t stop Laurence Paquette from climbing the infamous corporate ladder to become Marketing Vice President (VP) at Vestas. Arrived in 2006 from Quebec, Laurence Paquette unpacks the implications of exposing your true self at work, in a country that lets little leeway for individuality

  • Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

    Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

    Agreement between unions and employers allows more foreign workers in Denmark under lower salary requirements, with new ID card rules and oversight to prevent social dumping and ensure fair conditions.

  • New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

    New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

    Kadre Darman was founded this year to support foreign-trained healthcare professionals facing challenges with difficult authorisation processes, visa procedures, and language barriers, aiming to help them find jobs and contribute to Denmark’s healthcare system

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs