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10mo ago

Russian Court Sentences Playwright and Director to Prison for 'Terrorism'

Theater professionals Zhenya Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk convicted despite claims of anti-terrorism message in their work.

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Theater director Zhenya Berkovich, right, and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk are seen in a glass cage prior to a hearing in a court in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 8, 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. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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Overview

  • Zhenya Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk received six-year prison sentences.
  • Their play, 'Finist, the Brave Falcon,' was accused of justifying terrorism.
  • The play had previously been supported by the Russian Culture Ministry and won national awards.
  • The case has sparked significant outrage and support from the Russian artistic community.
  • The convictions are part of a broader crackdown on dissent since the Ukraine invasion.