In St. Petersburg, a tattoo artist named Daria faced preventive measures after being accused of insulting believers’ feelings. Authorities arranged a written undertaking that she would not leave the city while investigations continued. The development drew attention from local media and human rights observers alike.
Reports indicate she photographed a shin tattoo featuring an Orthodox cross and a distorted depiction of Jesus Christ, then shared the images on the Telegram messaging platform. Additional designs included cat motifs placed on church domes. Georgy Soldatov, who directs the human rights center Soros Sorokov, criticized the work, asserting that it offended religious sentiments.
Prior to any formal contact with police, a human rights defender reached out privately to the artist, requesting the removal of the tattoo photographs from the internet on the grounds that they could offend religious adherents. The artist declined, stating that her intent was artistic expression rather than an offense to faith.
The October 2023 wave of activity from the Forty Forties movement pushed for stricter social norms, urging a ban on Halloween celebrations in public spaces across Russia. Organizers announced an