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
Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kevin Pillar tucked a keepsake ball into his bag from his 1,000th career hit2024-05-21I am a neurologist but was still diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in my 40s
A top neurologist who was living a healthy and active life received a shock Parkinson's disease diag2024-05-21Spring Festival TV gala to delight global audience with traditional culture, cutting
(Xinhua) 08:30, February 02, 2024BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- This year's Spring Festival TV gala, an2024-05-21People celebrate upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year across world
(Xinhua) 13:19, February 06, 2024Students from a local school try lion dance during a cultural event2024-05-21Iran 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 foreig2024-05-21Stop prescribing puberty blockers to children
Women's rights campaigners have demanded that medics in Scotland stop prescribing puberty blockers t2024-05-21
atest comment