ST. PETERSBURG, April 15 (RAPSI, Kirill Chulkov) – Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky who is known for cutting off a part of his earlobe was officially charged with vandalism for burning tyres at a church in St. Petersburg, his lawyer, Dmitry Dinze, told RAPSI on Wednesday.

“Final charges have been brought today, and we have been officially notified that investigation is finished,” Dinze said.

The case is expected to be sent to the prosecutor’s office for approval of the indictment in about two weeks, he added.

Pavlensky and his accomplices burned car tyres, waved Ukrainian flags and banged sheet metal with sticks last February in a show of solidarity with the anti-government protesters in Ukraine. The performance was held near the Church of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg. 

The police arrested several people, including Pavlensky, and opened an administrative case on hooliganism charges.

Although Pavlensky pleaded not guilty, he was fined 10,000 rubles ($193).

Later a separate criminal case was opened against the artist on charges of vandalism.

Pavlensky is known for a number of controversial performances.

In July 2012, he sewed up his mouth and stood at the Kazan Cathedral with a poster in support of Pussy Riot.

In May 2013, Pavlensky lay down on the ground in front of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly naked with barbed wire around his body.

In November 2013, also naked, Pavlensky nailed his scrotum to the Red Square pavement near the Lenin Mausoleum.

Finally, in October 2014 he staged an eccentric stunt on the roof of the Serbsky Mental Institution in Moscow by cutting off one of his earlobes.