KYIV: A topless protester grabbed the European Championship trophy while it was on public display over the weekend in the Ukraine capital in the latest demonstration by the Femen women’s rights group.

Yulia Kovpachik, 23 on Saturday, walked up to the trophy in an exhibition in the city as if to pose for a picture . . . then pulled down her T-shirt to display to display, among other things, a protest message.

She held the cup with both hands before being seized by security guards who covered her with a sheet and took her to a waiting police car. This followed a topless protest by another group of Femen supporters outside the main stadium just before the finals draw in Kyiv last December.

The target of their protest anger is political injustice, social abuse and the exploitation of women in Ukraine.

Femen says Euro-2012, which Ukraine is co-hosting with Poland next month with the final in Kiev on July 1, will be a magnet for sex tourists – one of the group’s main targets – and will feed a booming sex industry.

About one million foreign tourists are expected in Ukraine for the Euros.

The trophy, the Coupe Henri Delaunay, was put back on display after the incident.

A Femen spokesperson said Kovpachik was bailed to appear in court on Monday on a charge of hooliganism. The charge carries a maximum fine of $100 and 15 days’ detention.

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