Russian contemporary artist Artem Loskoutov is being illegally pursued and forcibly held by militia in Novosibirsk. He is confined since Friday, 15 of May. Artem is well known in Novosibirsk as one of the leaders of underground art-scene. Since 2004, he has developed a number of performances, known to international artistic community. Currently he is accused in illegal drugs possession and in criminal political extremism.

The day before arrest, Artem was invited to a recently emerged branch of city militia “to have a talk” but refused to go there. Next day, in Friday 15 May, while walking with his friend in the downtown, he was surrounded by several men who kept him, arrested and moved into local militia. Just in the time of arrest he was accused on illegal drugs possession. Artem states the drugs was planted on him, and all of whose who know him are sure the case is fabricated. Two days later, Atrem’s advocate Valentin Demidenko said that Atrem was accused in political extremism, namely development of a criminal group intended to set up public unrests.

Artem Loskoutov is well known in Novosibirsk as one of the leaders of underground art-scene. Since 2004, he has developed a number of performances, known to international artistic community. He is founder and leader of contemporary art group “Babyshka posle pokhoron” www.kissmybabushka.com) and is author of several movies. To wide public, Artem is primarily known as leader of Monstration, a unique for Russian cultural environment street show. This week, he has to defend his diploma work in University, but he is not able to do it, staying in confinement.
He has never been accused in any extremist actions or even intentions before, although his art activity could be considered subversive. The case has no precedents in history of Novosibirsk art scene. It is well known that in contemporary Russia, accusations in durgs possessions are very hard to discard and thereby are a good options to put an activist into jail.

Open hearing of the case should take place in May, 17 in Dzerzhinsky court of Novosibirsk (Promyshlennaya str., 1) in 12:00 local time (9:00 AM Moscow time). Its phones are: 07 383 232-14-14, 07 383 232-14-14,
Nadezhda Belyanskaya, the witness of Artem’ capture, coordinates efforts to help him. Her phone: 07-913-370-78-60

To contribute for the advocate:
WebMoney:
R184408428834 (roubles)
E206305504836 euro)
Z263986904998 (dollars)

Thank you!

Information (in Russian):
http://kissmybabushka.com/?p=2076
http://tayga.info/news/36787/,
http://www.rian.ru/incidents/20090516/171264211.html