Artist Who Painted Putin in Lingerie Seeking Asylum in France

[Indi Guy]

Source: Salon

[font size="5"]R[/font]ussian artist Konstantin Altunin, who made international headlines this week after police seized his painting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in women’s underwear, is seeking asylum in France.

The 45-year-old fled Russia on Tuesday night after police raided an art gallery in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg and confiscated various works, including Altunin’s painting depicting Putin in a pink nightie and Medvedev in a bra and knickers. Altunin fears he would be arrested if he returned to Russia.

“Yesterday I went to the prefecture in Paris … and made this request (for asylum). I now need to go through the procedure and bring written confirmation of where I am staying,” Altunin told the Agence France-Presse.

In a separate interview with Bloomberg, Altunin said: “I don’t want to return to Russia. I want to live and work in an atmosphere of freedom.”...

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/08/31/artist_who_painted_putin_in_lingerie_seeking_asylum_in_france_partner/

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The painting:

[iandhr]

1. This artist shouldn't eat sushi.

[Hydra]

2. lol

I love subversives. Funny how fast this pink rebellion is gathering speed. Rainbows for everyone!!

[Jefferson23]

3. His work will not be soon forgotten..I hope he receives the protection he seeks. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

4. Generally speaking

you need to do more that paint a crap painting to get asylum in the EU.

[iamthebandfanman]

6. Well when you live in russia

panting a 'crap painting' of dear leader can get you prison time :p

[dipsydoodle]

9. If he gets away with it France may expect a flood of asylum seekers.

.

[Surya Gayatri]

25. On the other hand, France prides itself on its sobriquet

of "pays d'asile". They've traditionally been quite welcoming towards political asylum- seekers. You know, liberté, égalité, etc.

[iamthebandfanman]

5. I dont know why!

According to some folks on DU Russia is the freest country in the world!

[Scuba]

53. Really? Can you please provide a link?

I've never seen a post suggesting such a thing.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. Putin is really insecure....

This is a test...



Let's see how many here have a meltdown.

[iamthebandfanman]

8. how dare you!

lmao

[Bette Noir]

13. Odd picture, but you won't get arrested for it.

[Hydra]

19. Who would have a meltdown?

We never mock our leaders, especially those who have certain...insecurities...!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

26. Remember this?

He's gotten older...

[Hydra]

30. *gah!* *gets brain bleach*

[MADem]

20. More proof that POTUS can do ANYTHING--he even makes a fine looking woman!

Not everyone can pull that off!

[dipsydoodle]

21. What's her name ?

Kensington ?

[Hayabusa]

22. Man, Obama makes one ugly chick.

In all seriousness, though, I certainly hope he is granted asylum. Who knows what Putin could do to him.

[alp227]

42. Have you SEEN the type of stuff that's published on this "FreakingNews.com" site?

Just a warning for you & the DU community about posting "humor" pics found from that right wing ghetto.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

46. It's an equal opportunity offender....

[JI7]

51. the problem is the age, a man in his 50s and body of someone half that

he might not look so bad if they dressed him as a woman in her 50s.

[Octafish]

10. The artist exposes Putin for what he is.

Despots don't like anyone messing with their brand.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2013/07/17/briefly-stacy-keibler-eric-holder-chris-cooley-vladimir-putin/

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. That horse looks like it has all the spirit of a sack of potatoes.

[Octafish]

23. Is only two feet tall.

Special made for Dear Leader Class.

[Politicalboi]

28. How can one have spirit when carrying

A sack of shit.

[adirondacker]

32. I think they photoshopped out the carrot and stick. nt

[okasha]

34. Jayzus!!!!

My eyes! My eyes!

Edited to add: given that two-handed death grip on the reins, he seems to think he's driving a wagon, not riding a horse.

[Billy Love]

40. Looks like Western style handling.

Two different horse handle method - Western and English.

[arikara]

48. No way

Thats no western riding that I've ever seen. That poor horse must have a tough mouth.

[MADem]

11. But isn't RUSSIA a bastion of truth, justice and freedom? That's what Snowden said!!! nt

[Posteritatis]

16. Gotta love the Pavlovian Snowden references any time someone mentions Russia. Or not. (nt)

[MADem]

17. What is "Pavlovian" about a little inconvenient truth? That damn dog IS barking, and

Russia is an intolerant, closed society that is ruled by a dictator who trades off the Presidency with a patsy to perpetuate a patina of "democracy."

Truth, justice, and the Pootie Poot way! So little tolerance! So many hate crimes!


And that's where Eddie ran....

[7962]

35. I'll keep quoting him:

"I dont want to live in a society that spies on its own people". Ha.
Meanwhile, some of what he released reveals what type intel the SEALS were using during the Bin Laden raid. Information that should NOT have been made public. So much for him making sure he didnt release any sensitive information.

[MADem]

37. Now he hides in a country that spies on its own people and everyone else, too!

He's not naive. He ended up in a totalitarian state, by transiting through another totalitarian state that has an entire People's Liberation Army Unit dedicated to doing nothing but hacking--morning, noon and night!

I wouldn't be surprised if he got one helluva payday from Pootie, though. Maybe he even sold a chunk of his goodies to the Chinese...?

He's not a choir boy, that's pretty obvious. He'd better hope he made enough by selling out his homeland to live comfortably, because who would hire him, except as a sideshow? Anyone who would screw their country like that would screw their employer; the Russians as a country may be hosed up but on a personal level they value loyalty and straight talk.

Kim Philby and others found that out, to their dismay.

On a related note, it looks like Julian "Bigmouth" Assange is wearing out his welcome in Knightsbridge--he'd better be careful, or he may wake up one morning and discover his bed is out on the sidewalk! Or maybe the Embassy will move and not tell him....!

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/aug/30/julian-assange-embassy

Julian Assange has been told to stop using the Ecuadorean embassy in London to poke fun at Australian politicians as part of his Senate election bid, it has been reported.

The South American nation's president, Rafael Correa, chastised Assange after a video appeared online in which the WikiLeaks founder – along with Juice Rap News – ridiculed Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.

"We have sent him a letter: he can campaign politically, but without making fun of Australian politicians. We are not going to allow that," said Correa, who is attending a South American summit in the Surinamese capital Paramarimbo.

Assange appeared wearing a comedy wig and bandanna emblazoned with the Australian flag in the video. He also performed a cover version of John Farnham's You're the Voice.

[7962]

44. Re: Assange; I said almost the same thing in another thread!

And some time ago, I said lets see how Snowden is living in a year or so. I'll bet it's not on a shoestring budget.

[Octafish]

24. Actually, that's what MADem said.

Snowden took refuge where it was offered. As for what Snowden exposed, that remains a major problem for democracy.

“That capability at any time could be turned around on the American people and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn’t matter. There would be no place to hide. If this government ever became a tyranny, if a dictator ever took charge in this country, the technological capacity that the intelligence community has given the government could enable it to impose total tyranny, and there would be no way to fight back, because the most careful effort to combine together in resistance to the government, no matter how privately it was done, is within the reach of the government to know. Such is the capability of this technology.

"I don’t want to see this country ever go across the bridge. I know the capability that is there to make tyranny total in America, and we must see it that this agency and all agencies that possess this technology operate within the law and under proper supervision, so that we never cross over that abyss. That is the abyss from which there is no return.”

-- Sen. Frank Church (D-Idaho)

NSA spying on America makes some people much more powerful than others, meaning things can't get much more un-democratic than Secret Government.

[MADem]

27. A Russian newspaper report suggests a far greater level of collusion between Snowden, WikiLeaks, and

Russia than previously admitted.


http://www.buzzfeed.com/maxseddon/report-snowden-reached-out-to-russian-authorities-while-stil

But hey, whatever gets you through the night!

[Hydra]

31. Keep throwing things

Something is bound to stick.

[MADem]

36. I am not "throwing" a thing.

But do keep posting non-responsive pictures to news articles out of Russia!

They're the internet equivalent of "Waaaah!"

[Hydra]

38. I'm just reminded of Ken Starr

At some point, you'll find the holy grail link between Assange and every act of journalistic "terrorism" that's occurred lately. Even if it's an entirely different woman.

[MADem]

39. Speaking of Assange (and YOU brought HIM up, not me), his hosts have told him to please STFU.

He's wearing out his welcome, apparently.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/aug/30/julian-assange-embassy

And judging by his stupid costume, he's also jumping the shark.

[Scuba]

54. Link please.

[MADem]

55. When people lose their sense of humor, you've got 'em on the ropes.

Just sayin'....

But here ya go: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/01/nsa-edward-snowden-russia-temporary-asylum/2607737/

He's having so much fun where ever they're holding him that he can't even pop his head up to let the world know he's alive! Love that Russian Freedom!

[Scuba]

59. Nothing in the link you provided backs your claim that Snowden said Russia is a "bastion ...

... of truth, justice and freedom".

[MADem]

60. Like I said, "When people lose their sense of humor...." nt

[Scuba]

61. I'm confused. Are you just making shit up and calling it humor?

[MADem]

62. You keep making my case! Feeling a bit defensive, sensitive, is that it? nt

[Bette Noir]

12. Putin should be happy.

Altunin made him look good.

[MADem]

18. I think his puppet Medvedev should be thrilled--what a figure!

If he decided to stop being a patsy for Pootie, he could make serious money as a body double with that shape!!!

[dipsydoodle]

15. Not LBN

Salon link quotes globalpost and shows this to be a reprint from Thursday.

See original : August 29, 2013 12:35 http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/russia/130829/russian-underwear-artist-konstantin-altunin-seeks-asylum-in-france

[mountain grammy]

29. Ah those tyrants are so thin skinned.

[Bay Boy]

33. Confusing headline...

...who was wearing the lingerie? The artist while making the painting? Or Putin while posing for the painting?

[Indi Guy]

41. Hasn't WJC matured nicely??...

[Blasphemer]

45. Hmmmm.... Bill would actually be an attractive woman :).... nt

[Indi Guy]

49. Much prettier than Jimmy Carter -- at any age...

[MADem]

57. Best looking politician, hands down, was that asshole Giuliani.

He looked great as a woman--much better looking with the Monroe get-up than in a suit with his pointed head. He had lousy taste in men, glomming on to Trump in that foolish video, though!

I think it's curious how some folks do the gender-bending thing in an effort to "insult" the politicians...and that's the mind-set where some of those photoshops come from (not all, but some). I think people that do that kind of thing with anger or hate in their hearts are saying more about themselves than they realize.

For those just having a bit of fun, a light-hearted "What if?" game, without any overlay of negativity, that of course does not apply.

[fujiyama]

43. Putin is an insecure thug

but Russian society strikes me as uber masculine and very homophobic so Putin's offense at this is no surprise I guess.

[struggle4progress]

47. Different countries have different notions of national security issues, it seems

I wonder how Russian authorities would have reacted if David Miranda had been intercepted in a Russian airport with a bunch of secret Russian government documents

[JustAnotherGen]

52. +1

[MADem]

58. David WHO?

Ve saw NO David Anyone een airport here. No David on plane. No David come to Russia! Other airport make mistake!!!!!

I hear Siberia is lovely at this time of year.....

[DeSwiss]

50. This......

...is how Putin and Medeyev will always be remembered. Isn't that GREAT!

- I hope they use it in all the future history books!

K&R

[Evasporque]

56. fantastic...

nicely executed, reminds me of Gauguin

[Indi Guy]

63. This pic is just so wrong I have to post it...

Anyone got a caption?