Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Russian court on Monday opened the trial of a theater director and a playwright accused of advocating terrorism in a play, the latest step in an unrelenting crackdown on dissent in Russia that has reached new heights since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.
Zhenya Berkovich, a prominent independent theater director, and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk have been jailed for over a year. Authorities claim their play “Finist, the Brave Falcon” justifies terrorism, which is a criminal offense in Russia punishable by up to seven years in prison. Berkovich and Petriychuk have both repeatedly rejected the accusations against them.
Berkovich told the court on Monday that she staged the play in order to prevent terrorism, and Petriychuk echoed her sentiment, saying that she wrote it in order to prevent events like those depicted in the play.
Related articles
Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
JERUSALEM (AP) — The helicopter crash in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreig2024-05-21Swiss ballet group stages classics in Beijing
Bejart Ballet Lausanne, a Swiss ballet group, is set for staging four classic performances at the Na2024-05-21Abortion consumes US politics, courts two years after SCOTUS draft leak
Two years after a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion signaled that the nation’s abortion l2024-05-21Draisaitl scores twice as Oilers beat Kings 4
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings played a tight-checking series at2024-05-21Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
WALNUT, Calif. (AP) — Chase Dodd started swimming when he was just a kid. Once he began playing wate2024-05-21Barbra Banda's 2 goals keep Orlando Pride undefeated in NWSL
Barbra Banda was involved in all four of Orlando’s goals as the Pride beat the North Carolina Courag2024-05-21
atest comment