Euro 2012 Without Prostitution: Femen Activists Go Topless Against UEFA

UEFA is trying to influence Ukrainian government to legalize prostitution, the spokesperson of women rights group Femen Inna Schevchenko said at the latest in a row of topless protests against “turning Ukraine into brothel” during the Euro 2012, which starts in June.

This time, five Femen activists went bare-breasted at Kiev's Olympic Stadium carrying banners which read “Euro 2012 without prostitution”. The protest lasted only enough for reporters to take photos and videos as the women, who adorned their underwear with miniature footballs and wore toilet paper around their shins, were very quickly dragged away from the spot by the police.

Femen repeatedly appealed to both UEFA and Ukrainian government to create a social program devoted to the problem of sex tourism and prostitution in Ukraine; to inform football fans that prostitution is illegal in Ukraine; and to develop visual decisions and slogan for the Euro 2012 final match to fight against prostitution and sex tourism. The group even crated their own Euro 2012 mascots, Blyadek and Blyadko, who simply "love sex, football and beer".

The contradictory women rights group has lately been spreading their activities all around Europe – they staged their topless protests in Rome, Paris and even the Vatican. Asked about their unusual attention drawing tactics, Femen spokesperson simply explains the feminism “no longer works”.

“It is, if you excuse me, impotent. But what we do brings the desired effect. That's why not only Ukraine needs us, but Europe as well. We are planning to take over the world,” Inna Schevchenko was quoted saying.