MOSCOW, December 29 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court on Tuesday upheld the extension of detention of Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky, who has been charged with vandalism after his alleged attempt to burn the doors of the Federal Security Service building, until January 7, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.

Lawyer representing Pavlensky, Vladimir Samokhin asked to place the artist under house arrest or release on 1-million ruble ($14,100) bail.

Pavlensky was arrested on November 9 along with several other people who claim to be journalists that were invited to the artist’s performance. On November 10, the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow ordered the detention of Pavlensky. He stands accused of vandalism on grounds of ideological hatred and faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

Pavlensky is known for a number of controversial performances.

In July 2012, he sewed up his mouth and stood at the Kazan Cathedral with a poster in support of Pussy Riot.

In May 2013, Pavlensky lay down on the ground in front of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly naked with barbed wire around his body.

In November 2013, also naked, Pavlensky nailed his scrotum to the Red Square pavement near the Lenin Mausoleum.

In October 2014, he staged an eccentric stunt on the roof of the Serbsky Mental Institution in Moscow by cutting off one of his earlobes.

Last February Pavlensky and his accomplices burned car tyres, waved Ukrainian flags and banged sheet metal with sticks in a show of solidarity with the anti-government protesters in Ukraine. The performance was held near the Church of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg.