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
The government wants to buy their flood
HOUSTON (AP) — After the floodwaters earlier this month just about swallowed two of the six homes th2024-05-21Dubai rain: Emirates again halts local flight check
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Long-haul carrier Emirates said Friday it would again halt local2024-05-21Virginia fathers narrowly avoid being crushed while sitting by backyard fire pit
A pair of Virginia dads had a narrow escape when a tree came crashing down on their backyard firepit2024-05-21Soldiers who lost limbs in Gaza fighting are finding healing on Israel's amputee soccer team
RAMAT GAN, Israel (AP) — When Ben Binyamin was left for dead, his right leg blown off during the Ham2024-05-21Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient
Elon Musk’s Neuralink has been given a green light to implant its brain chip in a second patient aft2024-05-21More human remains believed those of missing woman wash up on beach
SOUTH MILWAUKEE (AP) — More human remains, including a torso, that are believed to belong to a missi2024-05-21
atest comment