A military court in Moscow convicted a Russian playwright and a theatre director for “justifying terrorism” in a play about Isis brides and sentenced them to six years in prison each.
Svetlana Petrichuk and Yevgenia Berkovich were sentenced for producing a play called The Brave Falcon Finist that is inspired by Russian women who went to Syria in the mid-2010s to marry fighters of the terror group.
Petrichuk, 44, and Berkovich, 39, intend to appeal their conviction.
Their trial, which was partially held behind closed doors, has raised concerns about artistic freedom in the country.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
A military court in Moscow convicted a Russian playwright and a theatre director for “justifying terrorism” in a play about Isis brides and sentenced them to six years in prison each.
Svetlana Petrichuk and Yevgenia Berkovich were sentenced for producing a play called The Brave Falcon Finist that is inspired by Russian women who went to Syria in the mid-2010s to marry fighters of the terror group.
Petrichuk and Berkovich were charged with justifying terrorism – a criminal offence carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison – with prosecutors arguing that their play portrayed Isis favourably.
Their lawyers said the play was supported by the Russian culture ministry and even won the Golden Mask, Russia’s most prestigious theatre award.
The play was read to inmates of a women’s prison in Siberia in 2019 and the state penitentiary service praised it on their website, according to Petriychuk’s lawyer.
Their supporters, including notable Russian artists, suggest the prosecution could be linked to Berkovich’s anti-war poetry.
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