Putin rebel who nailed his SCROTUM to the ground moved to psychiatric hospital

He also wrapped himself in barbed wire, and was arrested and jailed in Moscow when he set fire to the doors of Russia's security service FSB. 

The Associated Press reports that Paviensky has been moved from jail to a psychiatric hospital.

Partner Oksana Shalygina said the artist was transferred on Wednesday from jail to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation.

He may stay there for 21 days.

In Soviet times, political dissidents were often moved to psychiatric hospitals to discredit them.

Pavlensky also faces charges of vandalism in St Petersburg over a previous incident, according to lawyer Svetlana Ratnikova.

The activist has previously sewed his mouth shut in protest and explained his motivations to the Guardian.

On the scrotum stunt, he said: "I didn't think much of it at first but then, when I began thinking that the whole country is becoming a prison system, that Russia is turning into a big prison and a police state, it seemed perfect."

He was told that by getting a piercing first, the nail could be safely entered into the hole.

But Mr Pavlensky said he did not even use the pierced hole: "I was careful not to rupture a vein but it was very bloody and sore.

"They wanted to give me antibiotics and other medications, but I refused."

Last week, an inquiry into the death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko found that his death from radiation poisoning was "probably" approved by President Vladimir Putin and the FSB. 

(dailystar.co.uk)