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.
Candice Swanepoel stuns in a form
Uli Hoeneß and Thomas Tuchel expose divisions at Bayern Munich before Real Madrid clash
Forget Mars, are there aliens on… K2
Arne Slot a step closer to Liverpool job as compensation deal reached with Feyenoord
Messi in and Dybala out in Argentina squad for pre
Summer Movie Guide 2024: All the films coming to theaters and streaming
Ober stays hot, Santana homers to help Twins beat Angels 5
SZA and Keke Palmer are set to star in a buddy comedy from producer Issa Rae
How London streets run with blood under virtue signalling Mayor Khan. A three
Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
Pregnant Megan McKenna puts her luxury three