(Image source from: Artist absconding after painting Putin in negligee})

Art is once again at stake as politics loom over it!

Last Monday, four controversial paintings by Russian artist Konstantin Altunin were forcefully brought down from the St. Petersburg Museum of Power and confiscated by “unknown people”. Apparently, the paintings mockingly depicted key Russian political figures like President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in women's lingerie. Altunin is absconding now.

Confirming the news, Tatiana Titova, the director of the museum, revealed that Altunin has fled the country fearing retribution and is likely to seek asylum in France. Also, talking about the raid, he said that unknown people barged into the museum, brought down the paintings, looted museum revenue and destroyed property. The museum has been closed since the incident.

Later, Russian officials took the responsibility of the raid and said that officers were sent by the St. Petersburg branch of Russia’s Interior Ministry after a tip from a source that said illegal paintings were on display in the museum.

"Following an initial inspection, police seized four paintings that have been sent off for analysis, on the basis of which a procedural decision will be made," reads an official statement from the department, per The Wall Street Journal.

Altunin has apparently written a letter to Putin requesting back the paintings. Although, the abscodning painter hasn't issued any public statement on his whereabouts.

This isn't Altunin's first attempt in controversial paintings on Russian figures. He has previously lampooned Joseph Stalin and businessman Boris Berezovsky through his work of art.

AW: Suchorita Dutta