Topless activists grab Euro 2012 trophy
Reuters - Monday 21 May 2012, 14:40
Topless activists from a Ukrainian
women's rights group staged a second attack on the Euro 2012
trophy on Monday, grabbing it while it was on public
display in the south-east of Ukraine before being seized
themselves by police.
Inna Shevchenko, 21, an activist in the Femen group, peeled
off her top, revealing the words "Fuck Euro 2012" on her torso,
and grabbed hold of the 60 cm (two feet) high cup while it was
being exhibited in a central square in Dnipropetrovsk, according
to a video clip released by Femen.
As security guards moved in on her, another activist,
standing next to the cup ostensibly waiting to be photographed
by sightseers, stripped off to the waist to display the same
slogan.
Femen organisers said the second activist was a 46-year-old
French journalist from a French women's magazine. "She also
supports our struggle against sexism and prostitution and
decided to take part," said Femen spokeswoman Anna Hutsol.
Both women were detained by police.
The Kiev-based Femen is focusing its topless protests for
women's rights on next month's tournament,
which Ukraine is co-hosting with Poland.
Femen says Euro 2012, which will run in Ukraine from June 9
to July 1, will lead to a surge in prostitution in the former
Soviet republic and entrench the country as a sex tourist
destination in Europe.
It is threatening to carry out a blitz of stunts against the
tournament.
Another Femen activist staged a similar protest in Kiev
earlier this month, seizing hold of the same cup while it was on
public display in the capital.
The 8 kg (17 lbs) Henri Delaunay cup is on a tour of
Ukraine so Ukrainians can have souvenir photographs taken of
themselves alongside it.