Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
Time:2024-05-21 08:02:46 Source:travelViews(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
- Trump accepts a VP debate but wants it on Fox News. Harris has already said yes to CBS
- Man City just two wins from another EPL title. Burnley becomes the second team relegated
- Zimbabwe wins toss and elects to bowl in final T20 against Bangladesh
- Indonesia school bus crash kills at least 11, dozens injured
- Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
- Lithuania elections: Lithuanians vote as anxieties rise over Russia and Ukraine war
- Man City just two wins from another EPL title. Burnley becomes the second team relegated
- Els, Barron tied for Regions Tradition lead at 13
- A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it