News reports from Moscow confirmed that a man who climbed onto the “Princess Turandot” sculpture at the Vakhtangov Theatre on Old Arbat Avenue sustained injuries but remained in stable condition. Officials at Botkin Hospital provided an update, noting that the individual works in the 19th neurosurgery department, with his overall status described as fair. His breathing was described as regular and normal, offering clinicians a positive sign amid the incident. [Source: Botkin Hospital]
Late on the evening of September 9, a Telegram channel called Baza reported a climb onto the Arbat statue of the infamous princess. The sequence began with the man ascending to the statue’s apex, where he briefly saluted before descending and engaging in deliberate damage to the sculpture.
theater leadership later commented that the assailant injured a leg and sustained bruises during the event. The director clarified that the fountain sculpture itself is the property of the Gormost State Budget Institution, indicating shared responsibilities for the monument and surrounding art.
Officials noted that the fountain monument was erected in 1997 near the theater, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the first performance of the play bearing the same name. The incident has renewed discussions about the protection of public artworks in central Moscow and the role of municipal authorities in safeguarding cultural landmarks. [Source: City Cultural Administration]
In related cultural notes, the Russian rock band Bi-2 had previously altered lyrics in a song to reference a change in attribution, illustrating how public figures and cultural symbols can become intertwined in contemporary discourse. This event underscores the ongoing tension between spontaneous acts of expression and the preservation of artistic venues in urban centers. [Source: Entertainment News Desk]