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. |
2023 Zhejiang Agricultural Expo showcased about 14,000 types of agricultural productsU.S. must step up efforts in strengthening ChinaMembers of the national political advisory board arrive in Beijing for national sessionFirst volume of 'Xi Jinping: The Governance of China' published in BulgarianU.S. must step up efforts in strengthening ChinaForeign Minister Wang Yi briefs the media: HighlightsRussia summons German diplomat over leaked tapeEuropean leaders hit back at Macron remarkAcademicians vow greater contributionsAll suggestions given to State Council in 2023 addressed: official