Street artist Philippenzo arrested in Moscow for anti-war graffiti

A Moscow court has ordered the arrest of Filipp Kozlov, also known as the street artist Philippenzo, Pavel Chikov, head of the human rights group Agora, told BBC News Russia. Artist Artem Loskutov also wrote about Kozlov’s arrest. 

Chikov says that Kozlov had recently been in Georgia, but that he returned to Russia on July 29. The artist was arrested at the airport and charged with disobeying police orders.

Philippenzo is known for his political graffiti, including an anti-war work that combines the words “rape” and “Russia.” Artist Loskutov posted one of the last anti-war works that Philippenzo made in Moscow, on June 12.

BBC News Russia notes that Kozlov has been charged more than once before with “discrediting” the Russian army because of other anti-war work.