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.
The government wants to buy their flood
Afternoon tea makes a comeback thanks to the snap
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan seeking to have one another testify at upcoming divorce hearing
Michael Douglas, 79, reveals the moment he realised his wife Catherine Zeta
Ricky Stenhouse punching Kyle Busch could lead to suspension
Shirley MacLaine, 89, lives it up sipping on a martini with her pals during Malibu lunch date
Father of teen stabbed to death on Apple River by knife
Cruise worker 'murders newborn son on board ship': Shocked co
Horoscope today: Daily guide to what the stars have in store for YOU
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
King Charles 'asked Katy Perry for selfie' for a private secretary