Griveaux case: Pavlenski changes lawyer and denounces "political procedure"

Piotr Pavlenski, the Russian artist and activist who claimed the posting of an intimate video attributed to Benjamin Griveaux before being arrested on Saturday, faced the examining magistrates this Tuesday, February 18 in the afternoon.

This radical artist is targeted by two judicial reports opened by the Paris public prosecutor's office: the first for breach of privacy and dissemination without the consent of the person of a recording relating to words or images of a sexual nature as regards the video attributed to the former candidate (LREM) for the mayor of Paris; the second for violence with a weapon under the influence of drunkenness concerning stab wounds which he is suspected of having carried to two people during the Christmas Eve party on December 31.

The prosecution requested his detention on remand in this second case. His fate was to be examined late Tuesday afternoon.

The end of the imbroglio linked to Juan Branco

To accompany him, Piotr Pavlenski is assisted by a new lawyer: Me Yassine Bouzrou. This Tuesday, Mr. Juan Branco announced that his colleague had agreed to defend the interests of the Russian artist. This announcement puts an end to the vagueness that prevailed since the weekend as to the identity of the respondent's counsel. On Sunday, Juan Branco, the author of the anti-Macron pamphlet "Crépuscule", said that the prosecution had opposed his designation. However, only the president of the bar can oppose such a decision. Monday, Me Olivier Cousi, the President of the Paris Bar Association, had therefore announced the opening of an ethical investigation in order to clarify things.

The appointment of Me Branco was indeed likely to reveal a conflict of interest: the lawyer was the organizer of the famous New Years Eve party and he also indicated that he had advised Piotr Pavlenski before the videos were posted online - while denying having encouraged him to do so.

If he still denounces a desire of the prosecution to "dismiss", Me Branco drew the consequences of this imbroglio by suggesting to the artist to hire the services of Me Bouzrou. The Parisian criminal lawyer is experienced in sensitive cases, he defends in particular the family of Adama Traoré, this resident of Beaumont-sur-Oise (Val-d'Oise), who died after his arrest by the gendarmes in July 2016. He also defends a Yellow waistcoat worn during a demonstration.

"He is ready to do battle"

On the merits, before his withdrawal, Mr. Branco indicated that Piotr Pavlenski considered that he was the victim of a "political procedure". “He is very happy to confront existing power and have his case argued under conditions that allow him to determine the common sense of his actions. He does not present this political procedure as a victim but, on the contrary, very determined to put his ideas forward, ”insists the lawyer, who distinguished himself by his violent diatribes against the power in place. He describes his ex-client as “a determined, human and happy man as always. "He is ready to do battle," he concludes.