MOSCOW, November 10. /TASS/. Moscow’s Tagansky Court on Tuesday sanctioned the arrest of Russian political performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky in the case of vandalism launched after he set fire to the entrance of the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in downtown Moscow.

A TASS correspondent reported that a police request was thus granted.

"Grant the request, choose the measure of restraint for Pavlensky in the form of placement in custody," the judge said.

A police spokesman said Monday police in Moscow brought criminal charges against Pavlensky for setting fire to the entrance of the FSB headquarters.

Video footage released Monday showed Pavlensky standing against the burning FSB doors and holding a gasoline can.

The spokesman said Pavlensky was charged with vandalism. He may face a fine, corrective labor up to one year or three months under arrest if convicted.

The activist has attracted public attention before by nailing himself to Moscow's Red Square in November 2013.

In October 2014, he cut off his earlobe standing naked on the roof of the Serbsky psychiatry clinic in Moscow.