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.
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky
Proposed Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment draws rival crowds to Capitol for crucial votes
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Experts warn 'silver tsunami' poses threat to the economy as over
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
Displaced Lebanese seek alternative livelihood amidst prolonged border tension
Prince Harry's memoir Spare beaten in every category it was nominated for at British Book Awards
GOP attorneys general sue Biden administration and California over rules on gas
Devout Christian doctor, 68, who punched dementia
Wisconsin Senate plans to vote on overriding Evers veto of PFAS funding, other bills