Two activists who were arrested after throwing soup on Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa in Paris may avoid prosecution and instead be ordered to donate, prosecutors said.
On Sunday, the two women threw pumpkin soup on the bulletproof glass that protects da Vinci's most famous painting at the Louvre art museum, demanding the right to "healthy and sustainable food".
A group called Riposte Alimentaire ("Food Counterattack") claimed responsibility for the action.
The two activists were arrested and temporarily placed under police custody.
The prosecutor's office announced that the activists were accused of illegally entering the protected area around the painting, a violation that carries a maximum fine of 1,500 euros.
The two activists were due to appear before prosecutors on Monday afternoon to make a "civil contribution" instead of facing trial, prosecutors said.
According to the French system, making such a donation to a victims' association is an alternative to criminal prosecution. The amount is determined by the prosecutors, with the maximum amount being 3,000 euros.
The Louvre museum said the painting had not suffered any damage and added that the women had hidden the pumpkin soup in a thermos.
The painting, which has been kept behind armored glass since 2005, has been repeatedly attacked. In 2022, the masterpiece became the target of a cream pie attack. /BGNES
