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.
Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated
Women's Team Helps Residents Improve Understanding of Laws
People Pay Tribute to Deceased Ahead of Qingming Festival in Beijing
Liverpool confirms Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement
Sydney attack victims include a mother who saved her baby, a Chinese grad student and an architect
Smart Agricultural Platform Improves Production Efficiency in Central China
Promoting Harmony Within Families
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University
China's smartphone output surges in first two months
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University
1 dead, 4 wounded after shooting at Nashville restaurant in US