The French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) has denied the Belarusian artist and actionist Alexei Kuzmich refugee status.

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In a document dated February 24, 2026, his presence in France is described as a "serious threat to public order, security, and French society." The OFPRA decision is based on a conclusion from the National Security Service (SNEAS) dated April 14, 2025. The authorities cited Article L.511-7 of the CESEDA Code — a provision typically applied to individuals suspected of terrorism, espionage, or war crimes. On this basis, the agency officially ruled to deny Kuzmich asylum.

Scan of the response from French authorities to Alexei Kuzmich / image from the artist's social media / 2026.

The document lists several of the artist's actions that the French authorities regard as violations. Among them:

— A 2021 incident involving a scenario of sending a Molotov cocktail to the Elysée Palace. After the art action, the artist received an official "reminder of the law."

— The document also mentions an art action on July 29, 2024, near the grave of Vincent van Gogh, where Kuzmich attempted to "resurrect" the artist by digging a hole. The court found this to be a "violation of the peace of a burial" and sentenced him to one month of suspended imprisonment and a 3,000 euro fine.

— Another episode is the art action on September 20, 2024, at Place Vendôme in Paris, when the artist painted the column using fire extinguishers filled with paint. For this incident, he could face up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 euros.

Alexei Kuzmich — "Imitation" / art action / Paris, France / April 1, 2021. 

 French authorities also noted that the artist "shows no remorse" and continues to call his actions art, which, in their view, indicates a risk of such actions being repeated.

Kuzmich himself commented on the decision on social media, stating that he has effectively found himself in the status of an "exception" — without documents or the possibility of a legal life in the country. According to the artist, this means the inability to work officially, rent housing, or use banking and medical services.

Aleksei Kuzmich. Image from social media / 2026.

Alexei Kuzmich (junior) is an artist and art actionist from Belarus; author of books, texts, lectures, films. Works within his authorial system SLAG art (Self, Live, Action, Game art) — based on turning everyday life and circumstances into a game.

His works exist in the form of artistic action — unsanctioned interventions into public, political, and cultural spaces, which he calls games or ter-arts.
Lives in Paris.

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