MOSCOW, June 6 (RAPSI) – A prosecutor on Monday asked the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow to impose a 1.5-million ruble ($22,400) fine on performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky for setting fire to the Moscow headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

According to prosecution, Pavlensky’s guilt has been proven.

Defense in turn asked the court to acquit Pavlensky.

Earlier, the Federal Security Service (FSB) filed a lawsuit seeking 481,000 rubles ($7,200) in compensation from Pavlensky.

Eccentric artist Pavlensky was arrested on November 9, 2015, along with several other people who claim to be journalists that were invited to the artist’s performance. The next day Pavlensky was detained under a court decision.

Initially Pavlensky was accused of vandalism but later investigators reclassified charges against him to ‘destruction of cultural heritage sites’.

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.

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.

In February 2015, Pavlensky and his accomplices burned car tyres, waved Ukrainian flags and banged sheet metal with sticks 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.