Moscow police arrested two American animal rights activists on Wednesday for attempting to strip in public in protest against exploitation of animals for fur and leather clothes.
The women, members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Organization (PETA), threatened to take off most of their clothes near an international shopping center on the Krasnopresnenskaya embankment in downtown Moscow, the organizers said.
“The girls arrived only today from the United States for this action. Police detained them as soon as they unfolded their protest banners,” said Yelena Nadezhkina, a spokeswoman for the protesters.
Moscow police confirmed the detention. “The detained women are now at the police office,” a police spokesman said.
Fur and leather garments remain popular in Russian society due to the low temperatures in winter and the low incidence of animal rights awareness .
