MOSCOW, March 30 (RAPSI, Nikita Shiryayev) – The Meshchansky District Court of Moscow on Friday declined to replace a fine imposed on Russian eccentric performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky for setting fire to the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) headquarters with another non-custodial sanction, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.

A motion for the substitution of punishment was lodged by a court bailiff.

In June 2016, Pavlensky was found guilty of setting fire to the Moscow headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB).  The Meshchansky District Court of Moscow imposed a 500,000-ruble ($8,700 at the current exchange rate) fine on Pavlensky and collected 481,000 rubles in compensation from the artist in favor of FSB. Later, the ruling was upheld by the Moscow City Court.

Pavlensky is known for his 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, the man 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 tires, 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.

In May 2016, Pavlensky was sentenced to 1 year and 4 months of restriction of freedom for setting tyres on fire on Maly Konyushenny Bridge in St Petersburg. However, the artist was released from punishment because of expiry of the period of limitation for bringing to criminal responsibility.

 In May 2017, he received political asylum in France. Shortly after, in October, French authorities charged Pavlensky and his partner Oksana Shalygina with setting fire to the Banque de France office that caused a serious damage to the building. Pavlensky was put in a mental hospital but later released from medical surveillance. The defendants could face up to 10 years in French prison if convicted and a fine of up to 150,000 euros.