A theatre director and a playwright have gave the impression in court docket accused of justifying terrorism with a play games they first staged in Moscow again in 2020.
The trial of Zhenya Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk is the primary high-profile case since Soviet occasions to be in accordance with the contents of a theatre manufacturing.
Their supporters consider the prosecution is a part of a Kremlin-led cultural purge.
“It’s absurd,” Elena Efros, Zhenya’s mom, informed Sky Information outdoor the army court docket in east Moscow.
“I am sure [the witnesses] will say everything necessary to prove, as far as possible, the absurdity of this accusation,” she mentioned.
The play games, known as Finist, The Courageous Falcon, is ready Russian girls who was radicalised and travelled to Syria to marry Islamic Atmosphere opponents. It’s in accordance with the transcripts of actual police interviews.
First of all, it used to be met with essential acclaim. It received two Blonde Masks awards – Russia’s solution to the Oliviers and Tonys.
It used to be even recommended by way of the Russian jail carrier, consistent with Petriychuk’s legal professional, who informed a prior listening to it were learn to inmates at a penal colony in Siberia.
However later Russia invaded Ukraine.
Berkovich and Petriychuk had been arrested in Would possibly 2023, in spite of the play games not being staged. Atmosphere-appointed mavens had combed during the textual content and located “traces of Isis ideology” and “radical feminism”.
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On the week, pals mentioned it used to be a smokescreen, believing they had been detained for Berkovich’s anti-war poetry and former protests.
Natalya Livshits used to be amongst round a lot supporters who had been at this listening to. She didn’t know the ladies earlier than they had been arrested however started sending them letters quickly afterwards on account of her “outrage” at their case.
“This shouldn’t happen,” she mentioned. “That’s why I come to every hearing.”
Participants of the media had been allowed to in short movie within the court earlier than the trial were given beneath manner.
Berkovich and Petrichyuk had been locked within the glass cage, referred to as “the aquarium”, the place defendants are all the time positioned.
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The pair gave the impression comfortable as they from time to time laughed and gestured to family members.
To her mom, Berkovich made a “cat” image – V-signs with the index and heart palms on each palms, with one at the back of the alternative.
“They look well,” Berkovich’s mom mentioned. “They are confident, courageous, cheerful.”
She added: “This verdict doesn’t depend on us, on what happens in court, but on how the stars align.”
