forced treatment
Former Yeltsin Center security officer Alexander Vasiliev told E1.RU that he would not come to the upcoming court session as in the country – he was trying to distract himself.
“I’m in the mansion. I’m sitting, I’m freaking out. They told me not to come, neither did I. I decided that I don’t want to be at home either, but somewhere in the country I will water something, somewhere I will fix something. My hands are busy and I am distracted by all this. What decision am I waiting for? Yes, I want it not to happen at all so that everything ends and everything was fine, ”said the man.
The guard’s lawyer did not show up for the announcement of the verdict. He told the publication that he was on a business trip in another city. In addition to corrective work, the court ordered Vasiliev mandatory treatment by a psychiatrist.
Justice of the peace Olga Zhernakova said, “Assign Vasiliev a 180-hour period of forced labor and compulsory outpatient treatment,” as quoted by RIA Novosti.
The Yeltsin Center press service told socialbites.ca that they considered the incident in which the painting was damaged as an “accident”.
“The culprit was a man with mental problems. Of course, he shouldn’t have been hired by a private security company. After the sad incident at the Yeltsin Center Art Gallery, all possible additional measures were taken to protect the artworks,” he said.
“Three Figures”
According to E1.RU, two visitors to the exhibition “The World as the Non-Objective World”. The Birth of a New Art” at the Yeltsin Center Art Gallery on the evening of December 7, 2021. The canvas “Three Figures” was painted by Anna Leporskaya in 1932-1934.
On December 8, the painting was examined by the restorer of the State Tretyakov Gallery. The specialist found that the ink penetrated the paint layer, as the titanium white was not covered with the author’s varnish. In addition, a small crumb of the paint layer was fixed next to the left figure.
The canvas was sent to Moscow. The cost of restoration work amounted to 250 thousand rubles. At the same time, the painting was insured for 74.9 million rubles, so the insurance company paid for the restoration as soon as possible.
“Three Figures” has been successfully restored. The painting is already participating in another avant-garde exhibition – according to the expert, the damage was removed without consequences for the artwork.
“I thought it was just children’s drawings”
At first, law enforcement officials refused to open a criminal case, since the damage to the painting was insignificant. However, after the Ministry of Culture’s application to the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor, a lawsuit was still filed under the article of vandalism.
After examining the security cameras, it turned out that the “Three Figures” had their eyes painted by the “Yeltsin Center” security guard. And he did it on his first day on the job. Then the man was 63 years old. He told the E1.RU edition that he repented of his work and called himself “stupid”.
The man said that he was seriously injured during the first Chechen war. The crush affected mental and emotional health. He later worked in various security companies. In recent years he worked as a security guard at a bank branch until it closed before moving to the Yeltsin Center.
“At first I wanted to refuse (from working at the Yeltsin Center – socialbites.ca), I was afraid that without the opportunity to sit down, I would not be able to stand on my feet all day. But they told me: If you work a shift, we’ll pay you right away. I went out. To be honest, I didn’t really like these works (at the exhibition). They left a deep mark. I tried to pass without looking. I watched how people reacted and now I see: 16-17 year olds are standing and arguing about why there are no eyes, no mouth, no beauty!
There were girls in the company and they said to me, “Draw an eye, you work here”. I asked them: “Are these your creations?” They: “Yes.” They gave me a pen. I drew the eyes.
I thought it was just their childhood drawings!” – Vasiliev announced his move.
On August 19, 2022, the Podium Telegram channel reported that the Tretyakov Gallery refused to go to peace with the Yeltsin Center security guard. The gallery insisted that the 64-year-old pensioner be prosecuted despite the complete restoration of the canvas. The gallery’s head, Zelfira Tregulova, said she “did not consider it possible to apply to a judge” to dismiss the case, given “given the circumstances of the criminal case”, “damage to the painting” and “a high level of damage”. degree of public reaction”.
On August 24, journalist Ksenia Sobchak stood up for Vasilyev on the Telegram channel and denounced Zelfira Tregulova, the director of the Tretyakov Gallery.
“An elderly patient and experienced in military operations diagnosed in the field of psychiatry in Chechnya and Afghanistan, lost his son in the past. He admitted his guilt, apologized several times, the fine of 250 thousand, which he received for the restoration of the painting, was covered by insurance, ”Sobchak wrote.
On August 26, it was learned that the prosecutor’s office requested 250 hours of corrective work to be appointed to the Yeltsin Center security guard. The court reviewed the man’s medical records and read his statement that he had a disability and needed outpatient treatment by a psychiatrist. It is also known that the accused sent an apology to the e-mail of the Tretyakov Gallery and five thousand rubles, half of his pension, in the form of a donation to the gallery fund.
Source: Gazeta
Dolores Johnson is a voice of reason at “Social Bites”. As an opinion writer, she provides her readers with insightful commentary on the most pressing issues of the day. With her well-informed perspectives and clear writing style, Dolores helps readers navigate the complex world of news and politics, providing a balanced and thoughtful view on the most important topics of the moment.