Russian curators Yury Samodurov and Andrei Yerofeyev are facing up to three years in prison for their exhibition “ Forbidden Art” at the Sakharoy Museum in Moscow. Samodurov and Yerofeyev are being prosecuted after the Russian Orthodox Church brought charges against them for allegedly “inciting religious hatred” with certain works which were presented in the 2007 exhibition, reports Art Daily. Works that outraged the Orthodox Church in “Forbidden Art” include a painting depicting Jesus Christ as Mickey Mouse and another featuring the crucifixion with Christ’s head replaced by the Order of Lenin medal, the highest award in the former Soviet Union.

Yerofeyev said that the goal of the exhibit, which comprised of works previously banned from shows at major museums and galleries in 2006, was to show the reality of censorship. Religion was not the intended theme, he explained.

While Russia’s culture minister has come out to say that the two curators did nothing to break the law against inciting religious hatred, prosecutors refuse to back down. The case’s judge is expected to make her final ruling on July 12.

Andrei Yerofeyev seen in Moscow on July 5, 2010. The artwork behind Yerofeyev formed part of  "Forbidden Art" at the Sakharov Museum in 2007. AP Photo: Misha Japaridze.