'Kill Kirill': Topless FEMEN activist attacks Russian Patriarch (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Get short URL

Published time: July 26, 2012 11:36
Edited time: July 26, 2012 22:52

Security guards detain a FEMEN activist as she protests against the visit of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill (2rd R), to Ukraine in Borispol airport, near the Ukrainian capital of Kiev July 26, 2012 (Reuters / Gleb Garanich)

Download video (1.4 MB)
Embed

Tags

Religion, Scandal, Ukraine

A topless activist from confrontational group FEMEN has attacked Russian Patriarch Kirill during his visit to Ukraine.

Yana Zhdanova ran up to Patriarch Kirill screaming "Get out" and tried to block his way as he was reportedly walking towards the press at Kiev Airport.

The FEMEN member had “Kill Kirill” painted on her back and was protesting against “anti-state activities of the patriarch” and the arrest of anti-Putin activists, the FEMEN’s online Livejournal blog explains.

“Regrettably, people are trying to stain the Patriarch’s visit to Ukraine through these stunts,” the head of the patriarch’s press service, Deacon Alexander Volkov, said, adding that such incidents are not new and signal “a deep spiritual crisis in some social circles.”

The activist has been sentenced to 15 days behind bars for the assault.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in Kiev on Thursday at the start of a three-day visit to Ukraine dedicated to the Baptism of Rus Day, a holiday shared by both Russians and Ukrainians.

The FEMEN movement of female Ukrainian protestors has a flair for topless stunts. Some of their recent activities included "Strip it" protest against Euro 2012, a topless protest in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square and naked demonstrations for "freedom" in Ukraine.

Reuters / Gleb Garanich

Comments (49)

Anonymous user 13.03.2013 22:32

So they want killing for liberty??

Undo

Greg (unregistered) 01.02.2013 03:17

To the straightlaced Christians who find these women shocking, evil and disrepectful, I can only say that their religiosity far exceeds your petty bourgeois prejudices. Compared to these women, the hypocritical Patriarch is a moral pygmy. The closest Russian concept for what they are doing is Юродство.

Undo

Enrique (unregistered) 29.10.2012 09:33

The fact that she uses the Englis language (Kill Kirill, something that group usually does) says everthing. Just part of the Orange propaganda.

Undo

View all comments (49)