Voina art group leader detained in Italy
ST. PETERSBURG/ROME. July 30 (Interfax) - Oleg Vorotnikov, an activist from the art group Voina, who was on the international wanted persons list, has been detained by police in Italy, law enforcement agencies told Interfax on Wednesday.
A decision on Vorotnikov's extradition to Russia will be made in the nearest future, the source said.
Interfax currently has no official information on the matter.
In Russia, Vorotnikov is accused of hooliganism, insulting authority and subjecting a police officer to violence.
In September 2010, members of the art group conducted a protest in St. Petersburg called 'Palace Coup,' in which they overturned police vehicles A criminal case was opened based on the article dealing with hooliganism. Charges were brought against Voina leaders Vorotnikov and Leonid Nikolayev.
On March 31, 2011, the Investigative Committee's Main Department for St. Petersburg opened a criminal case against Vorotnikov on the basis of an attack on police officers following a Strategy 31 protest. Vorotnikov's wife Natalya Sokol was later named a suspect in the crime.
Vorotnikov, who had given his written undertaking not to leave the city for the period of the investigation, left and was put on the international wanted persons list in May 2011. His wife is on the international wanted persons list too.
