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
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers are undefeated this season2024-05-21Assange faces further wait for appeal against extradition to US
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange faces a further wait to find out whether he can bring an appeal aga2024-05-21Giant panda Fu Bao transported to base in Wolong National Nature Reserve for quarantine
(Xinhua) 15:03, April 04, 2024This photo taken on April 4, 2024 shows the giant panda Fu Bao at the2024-05-21Improved ecological environment attracts common cranes to Karamay, NW China's Xinjiang
(People's Daily Online) 10:33, April 11, 2024Common cranes fly in Karamay city, northwest China's Xi2024-05-21The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
A university boss has been praised after telling a pro-Gaza student mob he will not meet them until2024-05-21Season of flowers: Bullet trains bound for spring in Xizang
(Ecns.cn) 16:08, April 08, 2024A Fuxing bullet train runs through peach blossoms on the Lhasa-Nyingc2024-05-21
atest comment