Within hours, he shattered the Benjamin Griveaux campaign. Piotr Pavlenski, a Russian artist with radical methods, claimed to be at the origin of the dissemination of intimate videos of the now ex-candidate LREM for mayor of Paris. At 35, this activist is not his first blow. He made himself known by regularly defying the Russian authorities, before obtaining political asylum in France three years ago, in May 2017. But this time he crossed an additional milestone. Europe 1 paints a portrait of this controversial man.
"Denouncing hypocrisy" by Benjamin Griveaux
The blast started from a little-known website, which broadcast two intimate videos and ambiguous messages attributed to Benjamin Griveaux on Wednesday evening and addressed to a woman who is not his wife. The text accompanying the article is signed by a certain "Piotr Pavlenski". The Russian activist claimed as of Thursday evening to be at the origin of the publication, while the video spread on social networks and that the rumor swelled in the editors. He explained his gesture, in a telephone interview to the newspaper Liberation , by his desire to "denounce the hypocrisy" of Benjamin Griveaux.
"He is someone who constantly relies on family values, who says he wants to be the mayor of families and always cites his wife and children as an example. But he does the opposite," says he daily, specifying having obtained this video, which dates from "two or three years ago", from "a source who had a consented relationship with Benjamin Griveaux".
Refugee in France after defying the Russian authorities
Piotr Pavlenski is not for the first time. Before taking up residence in Paris, he had made himself known for his radical performances in Russia, not hesitating to challenge the regime of Vladimir Putin. In 2012, he sewed his lips in support of Pussy Riot, the feminist collective whose members had been sentenced to two years in prison in a labor camp. A year later, he made an even bigger impression by nailing his testicles to the cobblestones of Red Square in Moscow. Other equally spectacular and dangerous performances will follow, such as when he is wrapped naked in barbed wire, or when he cuts off part of his right ear.
His art, which he claims to be "political", has won him several condemnations in Russia. He spent seven months in detention in 2016 for having sprayed gasoline and set fire to the doors of Lubyanka, the historic seat of the KGB (now FSB, the Russian intelligence services). Piotr Pavlenski finally leaves Moscow a few months later, with his ex-girlfriend Oksana Chaliguina and their two children, following charges of sexual violence against a young actress. The couple, who found refuge in Paris, finally obtained political asylum in France in May 2017.
Pyotr Pavlensky during his performance in Moscow, where he burnt down the door of the Russian intelligence services. NIGINA BEROEVA / AFP
An artist with contested methods
Barely installed in the French capital, Piotr Pavlenski stands out with a new tour de force. In October 2017 he set fire to the facade of a branch of the Banque de France, to denounce the presence of the establishment on Place de la Bastille, in Paris. Sentenced to three years in prison, including two years suspended, he has returned to service in recent days to lead his new "fight" against Benjamin Griveaux. The activist had previously sought advice from the far left lawyer Juan Branco, whom he has approached in recent months.
Before publishing the videos of the former LREM candidate on the Internet, he also contacted Mediapart . The online investigation site, which said in an article that it had been approached by the activist, refused any publication, denouncing in passing "a manifest invasion of privacy".
Piotr Pavlenski is now facing new problems with French justice. The dissemination of intimate videos without the consent of their author, "revenge porn", is indeed punishable by two years' imprisonment and a fine of 60,000 euros. So far, no complaints have been made in this case.