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
Children are evacuated from school 'during an exam' after threat made via email
Children have been evacuated from a school with Year 11 students told to leave mid-exam after a thre2024-05-21Italy earns 5th Champions League spot for next season because of overall success in Europe
ROME (AP) — Italy is the first nation to benefit from UEFA’s move to award an extra Champions League2024-05-21BNSF Railway says it didn't know about asbestos that's killed hundreds in Montana town
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — BNSF Railway attorneys are expected to argue before jurors Friday that the rail2024-05-21Cycling star Evenepoel targets June return from crash ahead of Tour de France and Paris Olympics
BRUSSELS (AP) — Two weeks after crashing heavily in Spain, two-time world champion Remco Evenepoel s2024-05-21- LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s first walk-off hit for the Los Angeles Dodgers was also his first2024-05-21
Eric Bana gets animated during AFL game between the St Kilda Saints and the Western Bulldogs
He's the Hollywood hunk famous for his roles in blockbusters such as The Hulk, Black Hawk Down, and2024-05-21
atest comment