Trial begins for nine activists over paint attack on Congress

The Prosecutor's Office is seeking prison sentences for historical heritage damage following the 2023 incident.

Facade of a historic building with architectural stone details.
IA

Facade of a historic building with architectural stone details.

The Madrid Provincial Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against nine individuals for the damage caused to the Congress of Deputies during a climate protest on March 30, 2023.

The Public Prosecutor is requesting a sentence of one year and nine months in prison for each of those involved, classifying the incident as a crime against historical heritage. The trial is scheduled for this Thursday, May 21, at Criminal Court number 10 on Julián Camarillo street.
The events took place when the defendants, linked to environmental groups, poured red paint over the steps, columns, and the bronze lion statue of the Palacio de las Cortes. The building, listed as a Site of Cultural Interest, required specialized intervention to remove the persistent pigment.
The cost of the restoration work amounted to 5,863.98 euros, an amount that the Prosecutor's Office demands be paid by the defendants as civil liability. Despite the start of the oral trial, the Public Prosecutor has indicated that the proceedings could be resolved through a plea agreement between the parties.