Artist Activists Fined $300 for Graffiti of Arrested Opposition Leader

Four members of the art activist group Art Laboratoria ("art lab") are required to pay an administrative fine of 30,000 AMD (about $75 USD) each for spray painting detained political activist Shant Harutyunyan's portrait on the Armenian parliament building, one of the members, Artur Petrosyan, informed Epress.am.

Recall, the graffiti was done on Nov. 10, after which the men were detained by police for several hours on suspicion of "intentional destruction or damage of property" (Article 185 of the RA Criminal Code). 

The activists today were informed by police that the case was closed since damages did not exceed 30,000 AMD. However, since there were four of them, they each have to pay 30,000 AMD for a total of 120,000 AMD (about $300 USD). Petrosyan, however, said they are not planning to pay the fine and will be filing an appeal.