YouTuber Fined for Eating Raw Dead Squirrel Outside Vegan Food Stall During 'Disgusting and Unnecessary' Protest

Two men who devoured raw, dead squirrels outside a food stall as part of a protest against veganism have been fined. Deonisy Khlebnikov, 22, and Gatis Lagzdins, 29, better known as YouTuber Sv3rige, took part in the grotesque demonstration outside a Soho Vegan Food Market stall in the central London area on March 30.

The protest, during which Lagzdins wore a T-shirt saying "veganism=malnutrition," was part of the Latvian national's self-proclaimed "carnivore tour" which he posted on his YouTube channel that has more than 70,000 subscribers, reported the Evening Standard.

The pair denied charges of using disorderly behavior likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress at a trial at City of London Magistrates' Court in June.

They were later found guilty by a jury of all charges on July 22. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Khlebnikov was fined £200 plus costs and a surcharge. Lagzdins, who did not show up to the hearing, was fined £400 plus costs and a surcharge.

District Judge Devinder Sandhu told Khlebnikov: "While you may have been expressing what you may perceive to be a legitimate point of view, in my view what you did with Mr. Lagzdins that day went too far and became gratuitous."

Natalie Clines, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said in a statement: "Deonisy Khlebnikov and Gatis Lagzdins claimed they were against veganism and were raising awareness about the dangers of not eating meat when they publicly consumed raw squirrels.

"But by choosing to do this outside a vegan food stall and continuing with their disgusting and unnecessary behavior despite requests to stop, including from a parent whose child was upset by their actions, the prosecution was able to demonstrate that they had planned and intended to cause distress to the public. Their premeditated actions caused significant distress to members of the public, including young children."

Lagzdins also ate a raw pig's head outside a vegan food festival in Brighton, south England, in March as part of the same protest tour.

Dominika Piasecka, spokeswoman for The Vegan Society, told Newsweek: "We regret that these individuals feel the need to protest against a compassion-driven lifestyle that simply aims to reduce animal suffering and exploitation.

"Ironically, their actions showed that people are repulsed by the sight and smell of animal flesh, which we hope has made non-vegans realize that consuming meat, dairy and eggs is completely unnecessary.

"It is perfectly possible to get all the nutrients your body needs as a vegan; the British Dietetic Association shares the message that vegan diets are suitable for people of all ages and life stages."