A Belarusian who drew Musk giving the Nazi salute in central Warsaw has been given a two-year suspended sentence.
If the artist is caught creating murals again, the suspended sentence could be replaced with a real one.
A two-year suspended sentence and a fine of 160 złoty (44 dollars). This is the punishment the court handed down to a Belarusian for drawing a Heil Hitler-saluting Elon Musk in Warsaw, reports Euroradio.
If the artist is caught creating murals again, the suspended sentence may be replaced with a real one.
Yesterday, Maksim came to the hearing with a lawyer, an interpreter, and friends: a man and a woman. The artist was visibly nervous, but at the same time was dressed extravagantly: in a T-shirt with his own drawing of a Heil Hitler-saluting Musk, with the inscription Fuck Mask at the top, and the words Free Art on his face. The artist, through his lawyer, stated that he should not be photographed due to security measures.
According to the judge, who read out the essence of the case, the owners of the building at 47 Emilia Plater Street sued Maksim, accusing him of vandalism and damage to property in the amount of 1944 złoty (530 dollars). The artist pleaded not guilty, the plaintiffs did not attend the hearing.
Explaining the circumstances of the incident to the judge, Maksim asked to interpret his act as a manifestation of art.
“I have the right to express my own opinion through art. And in this case, it was street art.”
The Belarusian also asked to pay attention to the context of events.
“It was January, and there was a lot of news in the press about certain changes in sentiments. At that moment, Elon Musk became very popular on the Internet as a meme. He showed this gesture as a representative of the government of President Donald Trump. Then information appeared that Elon Musk was acquiring luxury apartments in Warsaw, opposite Plater Street. In that skyscraper, where the Złote Tarasy shopping center is located.”
<…> I do not accept violence, I am afraid of war, and I am a rather impressionable person, especially towards very rich people and influential politicians, whose gestures can be interpreted in different ways. This impresses me, and I am afraid of it.”
The artist noted that with his gesture, Musk expressed support for the fascists.
“I didn’t specifically choose the wall to draw the work on, but it was in a good place to express my civic position.”
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