A Russian court on Monday opened the trial of a theater director and a playwright facing charges of justifying terrorism over a play they staged, the latest step in the unrelenting crackdown on dissent in Russia that has reached unprecedented levels during Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Theater director Zhenya Berkovich, left, and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk are seen in a glass cage prior to a hearing in a court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 20, 2024. Berkovich, a prominent independent theater director, and Petriychuk, a playwright have been behind bars since early May. Authorities claim a play they staged,"Finist, the Brave Falcon," justifies terrorism, which is a criminal offence in Russia punishable by up to seven years in prison.
The case against Berkovich and Petriychuk elicited outrage in Russia. An open letter in support of the two artists, started by the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper, has been signed by more than 16,000 people since their arrest. The play, the letter argued, “carries an absolutely clear anti-terrorist sentiment.”
Immediately after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin unleashed a sweeping campaign of repression, unparalleled since the Soviet era. It has effectively criminalized any criticism of the war, with the authorities targeting not only prominent opposition figures who eventually received draconian prison terms, but
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine beats back Russian attempt to cross border as Moscow seeks Kharkiv buffer zone: reportUkrainian officials suspect that Moscow plans to take Kharkiv as part of establishing a buffer zone between the Ukrainian and Russian borders as the war drags on.
Read more »
Britain to Expel Russian Attaché in Response to 'reckless and Dangerous Activities' by MoscowBritain will expel Russia's defense attaché, whom it accused of being a spy, in one of several measures it announced Wednesday to target Moscow's intelligence gathering operations in the U.K.Home Secretary James Cleverly said the measures were aimed at what he called the...
Read more »
Britain to expel Russian diplomat in response to Moscow's 'reckless and dangerous activities'Britain is taking a firm stance against Russian intelligence activities on its soil by expelling Russia's defense attaché, Maxim Elovik, over spying allegations.
Read more »
Britain to expel Russian attaché in response to 'reckless and dangerous activities' by MoscowBritain says it is expelling Russia’s defense attaché after accusing him of being a spy.
Read more »
Britain to expel Russian attaché in response to 'reckless and dangerous activities' by MoscowBritain says it is expelling Russia’s defense attaché after accusing him of being a spy.
Read more »
Britain summons Russian ambassador, targets Moscow-owned homes and charges five alleged spiesThe United Kingdom has summoned the Russian ambassador and announced a swathe of new measures against Moscow, including the targeting of Russian-owned buildings that the British government said have been “used for intelligence purposes.”
Read more »