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
Burglar hurled stolen mobile phones at police from the top of 60ft high roof during nine
A burglar hurled stolen mobile phones at police officers from the top of a roof during a nine-hour s2024-05-21Marc Benioff lunch auction raises $1.5M for charity. Not bad for first year without Warren Buffett
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The $200,100 winning bid for a private lunch with software titan Marc Benioff mig2024-05-21I was a stalking victim of the real
A woman who was allegedly stalked by Baby Reindeer's real-life 'Martha' fears she will 'come for h2024-05-21Outbound travel boom mirrors China's consumption vibrancy
BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- During the just-concluded May Day holiday, global tourist destinations at2024-05-21Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former South African President Jacob Zuma was barred Monday from running for Par2024-05-21- MIAMI (AP) — Bryson Stott hit a tiebreaking, bases-loaded triple in the sixth inning, and the major2024-05-21
atest comment