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
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
GOODHOPE, Mo. (AP) — Four people in rural Missouri died when an explosion that could be heard 10 mil2024-05-21North Korea's Kim Jong Un turns 40 ... maybe
Kim Jong Un visits a new poultry factory with his daughter on his birthday. Photo: STR2024-05-21North Korea's Kim Jong Un turns 40 ... maybe
Kim Jong Un visits a new poultry factory with his daughter on his birthday. Photo: STR2024-05-21Chinese court sentences Australian Yang Hengjun to death with two
By Tom Crowley and Stephen Dziedzic, for ABCChinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun attends a lecture2024-05-21- Tom Holland enjoyed a post-show cup of tea and proudly waved to fans as he left the Duke of York's T2024-05-21
Westfield Bondi Junction evacuated after alleged stabbing and shots
Shots have reportedly been fired in a New South Wales shopping centre. (File photo) Photo: 123RF2024-05-21
atest comment