FEMEN's Euro 2012 Protest: Ukraine Activists Stage Topless Attack

KIEV, May 21 (Reuters) - Topless activists from a Ukrainian women's rights group staged a second attack on the Euro 2012 soccer trophy on Monday, grabbing it while it was on public display in the southeast 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 Euro 2012 soccer 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. (Writing by Richard Balmforth; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Comments

[Poppy92]

05:14 PM on 06/09/2012

Going naked isn't going to help prostitution.. All its going to do is let a lot of guys have topless pictures of them. If i were a prostitute i would not want them fighting for me, i mean come on anyone can streak at a event. Its attention grabbing for all the wrong reasons.

[Vincent Van Der Hyde]

02:59 PM on 05/23/2012

I find it odd
that 'they' are willing to show the word 'fuck',
but not a female breast.

[StopMakingSense2]

02:56 PM on 05/22/2012

I'll take topless protests over revolutionary garb with dangling teabags any day! Even if both have stupid messages at least one is worth looking at!

[Carbon Forteetoo]

02:40 PM on 05/22/2012

While those Ukrainian chicks have some hot, über tight bodies, they also appear to be filled to the top with crazy.

I would like to invite them to the GOP convention in Tampa this summer.

[PC Contrarian]

12:32 PM on 05/22/2012

What is Femen doing with prostitutes?
Are they counselling them, attempting to offer them an alternative job?
Or are they just being exhibitionists, and self-indulgent?

[Whistlejackett]

01:36 PM on 05/22/2012

They are simply protesting their governments willingness to spend billions on a soccer game and nothing on the standard of living. Kind of like the USA or the UK's 12 billion on the Olympics. They protest against sexualization of women.

[PC Contrarian]

03:47 PM on 05/22/2012

"
They protest against sexualization of women"; by exposing their breasts? What is this, a homeopathic protest?

[bluecub]

10:58 AM on 05/22/2012

I told my friends soccer wasn't worthless.

[Joriet]

09:52 AM on 05/22/2012

Another example to prove plutocracy doesn't work.

[simonbugatti]

09:33 AM on 05/22/2012

I've got nothing against topless and I think they're fighting for a just cause, but they're starting to suffer from 'overexposure.' There's been a Femen protest against something or other like almost every month.
As to the Euro Cup, I hope to be watching a couple of matches even though the time difference (most matches around 2 am and not on TV, only at pubs) and having only 2 days off a week are not going to give me a lot of opportunity.

[jonny dipstick]

09:32 AM on 05/22/2012

This is great! I hope all the protesters all over the world take this approach to everything!

[myopinion2]

09:47 AM on 05/22/2012

Careful what you wish for. I've seen some of those protesters...

[doru]

09:22 AM on 05/22/2012

They sound like the opposite of prostitutes to me.
Freedom takes many forms.

[jbad]

09:22 AM on 05/22/2012

Between the Occupy Wall Street and Femen protest groups, I prefer Femen. Keep fighting the good fight.

[jconceicao]

08:32 AM on 05/22/2012

It's definitely an effective way to call attention to their cause. Now what? Prostitution has existed for centuries. There'll never be a solution for this problem if that's what it is, a problem. Just wondering, what's this group doing other than stripping down in public to help in solving the prostitution problem? Nothing.

[myopinion2]

09:46 AM on 05/22/2012

maybe they're volunteering to help shoulder the load.

(get a sense of humor)

[David Charin]

01:23 PM on 05/24/2012

they're arguing for the Ukrainian government to do more to protect underage minors from prostitution, to crack down on the syndicates which trade drugs, abuse prostitutes, and make billions in illicit trade with the EU.

[andersonxox]

07:22 AM on 05/22/2012

Proper pics or it never happened.

[KeepNIt2Real]

10:27 AM on 05/24/2012

lol...

[Yank in France]

06:32 AM on 05/22/2012

I am not sure these particular activists have chosen the best path to highlight their very just cause, but I must give them credit for creativity and boldness. Above all, I wish them lots of success in their fight against prostitution in the Ukraine!!

[eric14]

06:16 AM on 05/22/2012

Give them publicity! They are fighting for as good cause in difficult circumstances.