Russian Artist Yulia Tsvetkova Faces Jail Time for Vagina Drawings
Authorities in Russia have classified the drawings as pornography.
Artist and activist Yulia Tsvetkova is on trial for sharing illustrations of vaginas online. The colorful drawings were posted to an online group she founded to debunk taboo surrounding genitalia. According to Russian authorities, Tsvetkova’s works amount to “production and dissemination of pornographic materials.”
Tsvetkova’s trial began on April 12. If found guilty, she faces up to six years in prison. The artist is no stranger to clashes with Russia’s oppressive government — in 2019, she was fined for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors” for serving as administrator of two LGBTQ online communities hosted on social media platform VKontakte. In 2020, she was found guilty under the same charge for a drawing that depicts two same-sex couples with children.
Tsvetkova’s case has sparked protests across Russia, as well as an online petition demanding her charges be dropped. Just days ago, Vladimir Putin signed a law banning same-sex marriage. The legislation also prohibits transgender people from adopting children.
Head to the Amnesty International website to learn more about the trial of Yulia Tsvetkova.
