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
What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky
WASHINGTON (AP) — Exploring the cosmos makes for happy employees, federal workers like to work from2024-05-21Roof of the world inhabited since 50,000 years ago: archaeologists
LHASA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The hinterland of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, reputed as the "roof of the2024-05-21- Despite fewer visitors to Chengdu during the pandemic, its centuries-old Temple of Marquis Wu remain2024-05-21
30 days to go, anticipation for impending Hangzhou Asian Games runs high across Asia
(Xinhua) 15:23, August 23, 2023HANGZHOU, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- With just 30 days left before the 19th2024-05-21Children 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 thre2024-05-21Country lifestyle attracts people to village
Tourists take pictures of a rural homestay establishment in Huangshandian village in the district.[P2024-05-21
atest comment