Two topless women activists were detained Friday after staging a provocative protest against Russia’s Ukraine invasion near the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, where they damaged an iconic anti-landmine monument.
Members of FEMEN, an activist group known for bold demonstrations, targeted the “Broken Chair” sculpture, a 40-foot wooden monument symbolizing landmine victims. Two topless demonstrators wielding a chainsaw inflicted significant damage to one leg of the landmark installation, which ironically represents the same type of violence currently occurring in Ukraine through landmine deployment.
The protestors, wearing Ukrainian flag-colored bands and braving near-freezing temperatures, painted anti-war slogans and expletives on their bodies targeting both Russia and the United Nations. Their demonstration highlighted frustration with the UN’s perceived inability to halt the ongoing conflict.
Police responded to the incident by detaining three individuals, including a clothed associate of the demonstrators. The historic “Broken Chair” sculpture, installed outside the UN complex, stands as a permanent reminder of landmine victims and advocates for banning these weapons, which continue to pose threats in current conflict zones including Ukraine.
