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. |
Otago councillors vote to delay notification of controversial land, water planOtago councillors vote to delay notification of controversial land, water planTreaty referendum among issues raised with government at WaitangiJudges sceptical of Trump's immunity claim in election subversion caseChlöe Swarbrick announces she will run for Greens coChris Christie drops out of Republican White House raceUS regulator grounds Boeing MAX 9 indefinitely, flights cancelledLive updates: Hurricanes v Chiefs, Super Rugby Pacific round 8Watch: Auckland paddleboarder 'buzzing' over interaction with orca whalesFormer Pakistan PM Imran Khan gets 10