Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
Time:2024-05-21 13:30:32 Source:entertainmentViews(143)
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.
You may also like
- The Latest
- Lottery 'loser' boyfriend, 39, who is fighting his ex
- Florida law discriminates against Chinese nationals trying to buy homes, attorneys argue
- China's BYD adds new dealership in Tokyo
- ‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
- Lottery 'loser' boyfriend, 39, who is fighting his ex
- Previewing the 1st round of the NBA playoffs, which start on Saturday
- Georgia gymnastics coach Courtney Kupets Carter is fired after 7 seasons, no NCAA titles
- I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £400