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.
Biden says Brown v. Board of Education ruling was about more than education
Hong Kong court bans 'Glory to Hong Kong' song
PrettyLittleThing billionaire Umar Kamani and new wife Nada host Disney
Katie Price 'has vowed to name and shame the celebrity who raped her in explosive new book'
Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
Rojas and France help the Mariners knock off the Twins 10
PrettyLittleThing billionaire Umar Kamani and new wife Nada host Disney
2 young children die after being swept away by fast
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored
Osaka plays solidly in her opening match at the Italian Open. Darderi eliminates Shapovalov
Yu Darvish extends scoreless innings streak to 25 in Padres' 9
PrettyLittleThing billionaire Umar Kamani and new wife Nada host Disney