February 12, 2024

A Criminal Doll


A Criminal Doll
Doll with prison tattoos, artwork by Vasily Slonov. Mediazona, Telegram.

On February 9, it was reported that artist Vacily Slonov was detained at Krasnoyarsk airport while heading to Kazakhstan after police opened an investigation into his artwork for the use of prison tattoos.

This is not the first run-in with the law for Slonov, who identifies himself as a member of the "Siberian ironic conceptualism" artistic movement. In 2013, Slonov's exhibition "Welcome! Sochi 2014" at the White Nights Festival captured international attention. The exhibit included satirical cartoons, including the animated character Cheburashka chasing athletes and Olympic rings made with nooses. The gallerist in charge of the festival, Magat Gelman, was subsequently fired from his job.

In 2018, the pro-Kremlin group SERB vandalized his Moscow exhibit "Celestial Jerusalem" for featuring a painting of President Vladimir Putin combined with a skull and a quote from the Old Testament.

Most recently, in October 2023, the 54-year-old exhibited a doll covered in prison tattoos in the Krasnoyarsk Novotel. In response, a tribunal fined him and ordered the destruction of his piece for the use of the forbidden symbology of the AUE, an underground youth criminal network that is classified as an extremist organization.

On February 8, police opened a criminal case against the artist for uploading a picture of his tattooed doll exhibit on his VKontakte. The post was quickly taken down and his VKontakte account was deleted. On that same day, security forces raided his house and workshop and confiscated all his electronic devices. On February 9, Slonov's wife announced her husband's arrest on his Instagram account, Gulag ToysThe artist was stopped by police while "about to fly to Kazakhstan," according to Mediazona. 

On February 10, Slonov told the court he was going to Almaty to visit museums. The artist denounced the investigators for causing psychological duress during his detention. The court sentenced him to two months of house arrest.

You Might Also Like

  • February 06, 2024

"I'm Alive" a Harrowing Escape

A gay Chechen man forced to out himself on camera vanished after the video went viral in 2022. Now, he tells his story.
A Very Famous Terrorist
  • December 25, 2023

A Very Famous Terrorist

Popular writer Boris Akunin has been added to the Kremlin's list of terrorists and extremists.
A QR Crackdown
  • December 14, 2023

A QR Crackdown

Moscow bans QR codes on billboards in response to the Russian political opposition.
Integration through Education?
  • October 08, 2023

Integration through Education?

Russian President Putin stressed the importance of education in regions newly annexed from Ukraine. But is there a more sinister motive at play?
Dance Floor Dissent
  • May 26, 2023

Dance Floor Dissent

A video of people singing pro-Ukraine lyrics prompted government intervention.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955