Russian artist who released Griveaux sex video is launching 'political porn platform'

Russian protest artist Piotr Pavlensky on Friday confirmed  that he posted a sex video that tanked the Paris mayoral bid of ruling party candidate Benjamin Griveaux, calling his action a fight against political "hypocrisy".

Artist Pyotr Pavlensky reacts inside a defendants' cage during a court hearing in Moscow, Russia, February 26, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev

The controversial Pavlensky, who enjoys political asylum in France, told the French news agency AFP that the leaked images of a man masturbating were the first contribution to a "political porn" website created to expose what he considered deceitful behaviour by people in power.

Piotr Pavlensky

-Piotr Pavlensky : "j'ai encore plein de sextape de politiciens à venir"

-Absolument tous les politiciens français : pic.twitter.com/RUTZpFnJt8

  Penseur Sauvage (@Penseursauvage) February 14, 2020

"I have launched the first 'political porn' platform," he said after Griveaux dropped out of the mayoral race citing concern for his wife and children.

"Obviously I need sources. I hope that I will have enough material."

Known for some startling stunts, which have included nailing his scrotum to Red Square in Moscow, Pavlensky insisted his problem was not with Griveaux's morals or personal choices, but political deceit.

"It is a matter of principle. It is as if someone who campaigns against violence against women beats up his wife every night," he said.

"Benjamin Griveaux started his campaign with a monstruous lie, a disgusting hypocrisy, he used his family, his wife, his children to create a political image and present himself as an icon for all the fathers and husbands of Paris."

Griveaux campaigned on "traditional family values" he did not follow himself, claimed Pavlensky, complaining that "hypocrisy has become the norm in France. It should not be considered normal."

Having earlier told the Liberation newspaper that he got the images from a "source" who had a consensual relationship with Griveaux, he refused to divulge any further details about the video's origins.