Piotr Pavlenski before the judge: why he risks prison

Russian activist Piotr Pavlenski, who admitted being responsible for the broadcasting of the videos in the "Griveaux case", is heard on Tuesday morning by the judge, with a view to a probable indictment in connection with '' Another investigation, for gunshot wounds and damage to an organized gang, committed on the evening of December 31, 2019 in Paris. The man is suspected of having injured two people during this eventful evening. The Paris public prosecutor's office had demanded his pre-trial detention during his removal on February 18. Whether or not the Russian artist is imprisoned is what is at stake in his hearing today before the judge.

Risk of leakage

In these requisitions, the prosecution justifies the request for detention because of possible pressure on the witnesses. The prosecutor also highlights the "significant difficulties" that the investigation services encountered in locating Piotr Pavlenski. Thus a search warrant had to be issued to try to arrest the suspect while he was in a hotel with his partner, located in the 16th arrondissement. The artist does not in fact have any own accommodation or residential lease to ensure a real home, can we read in the indictment. Hence a risk of leakage, according to the prosecution.

The Parisian was able to consult the minutes of two people who filed a complaint against Piotr Pavlenski. One claims to have received a punch in the cheek from the Russian artist, the other relates to having been wounded in the face by the blade of a knife.

For his part, who presents himself as a “political artist” admits having addressed a “slap”, to one of the participants of the evening: “A girl said Shut up! to Alexandra (his partner, Editor's note) . Of course, she slapped him and this girl tried to grab Alexandra by the hair. She is my lover. I have to defend her: I slapped this girl, ”he told the Parisian. As for the blade, "I took the knife that was on the kitchen table. History to show that I could defend myself. That's all. Then I put the knife down, ”he added when we met him.

Piotr Pavlenski (like his partner Alexandra de Taddeo), was already indicted on February 18 last for "invasion of privacy by recording or transmitting the image of a person of a sexual nature" and "distribution without the person's agreement of a recording relating to words or images of a sexual nature and obtained with his consent or by himself". This affair of intimate videos had pushed Benjamin Griveaux to give up trying to run for mayor of Paris.

VIDEO. Removal of Griveaux: who is Piotr Pavlenski, the man who broadcast the videos?