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. |
Museums in rural China preserve culture as nation rapidly modernizesCulture Fact: Things you must know about NauruBiden warns Netanyahu US will NOT support Israel's counterattack on Iran amid fears of allFamily who got their nineDomestic comedySpring Festival TV gala audience, viewership hit record highsItalian industrial heritage exhibition in Chongqing sparks cultural dialogueHis latest dish! James Martin, 51, is armChinese New Year culture festival held in E China's townChinese Culture and Food Festival held in Kuwait