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.
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
Upgrades badly needed for PM's residence
Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into LATAM Boeing flight, report says
EDITORIAL: BOJ must ensure price stability after change in monetary policy
Kate Hudson hits the stage to debut songs from her new album Glorious at star
Ruby Franke: Parenting advice YouTuber given maximum sentence for child abuse
Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into LATAM Boeing flight, report says
Immigration declines nearly half of study visa applications from India so far this year
Strictly star Giovanni Pernice's former partner Rose Ayling
Brazil replaces injured goalkeeper Ederson in Copa America squad
EDITORIAL: Food labeling review inevitable following Benikoji scare