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.
FIFA offers peace talks to player unions, leagues on legal threats about congested game schedules
Family discover hidden camera disguised as a rock pointed at their home in California
Pochettino at ease about Chelsea job status. Not 'end of the world' if he leaves
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Japanese automaker Honda reports booming profit on sales growth, weak yen
Missouri State moves up to Conference USA in 2025 from FCS, becoming 12th football member
Australian judge extends ban on X sharing video of Sydney bishop's stabbing
Independent UN experts urge Yemen’s Houthis to free detained Baha'i followers
Polish farmers march in Warsaw against EU climate policies and the country's pro