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.
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
RMB retains 4th spot as currency for global payments: SWIFT
Brayan Bello allows 1 hit in 6 innings as Red Sox breeze past Pirates 8
RMB retains 4th spot as currency for global payments: SWIFT
‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
Sabrina Impacciatore and Domhnall Gleeson join The Office spinoff in first casting announcement
Sabrina Impacciatore and Domhnall Gleeson join The Office spinoff in first casting announcement
Kate Hudson hits the stage to debut songs from her new album Glorious at star
Eiza Gonzales is radiant in behind
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
Travis Scott anxious to break 0