Russia has denied a visa to a Swiss director who was planning to shoot a film about the trial of the Pussy Riot punk group.
The producer, Arne Birkenstock, said on September 17 that Milo Rau's visa application to the Russian Consulate in the German city of Bonn was denied without explanation.
Rau was planning to shoot a documentary based on last year's trial against three Pussy Riot members, who were sentenced to prison for staging a protest song against President Vladimir Putin in a Moscow cathedral.
Yekaterina Samutsevich called the visa denial "a disgrace."
Samutsevich was among the three Pussy Riot members jailed last year, but was subsequently released.
Rau made headlines last year when police stormed a theater performance he directed in Moscow.
Officers accused him of visa violations, but then never pressed charges.
The producer, Arne Birkenstock, said on September 17 that Milo Rau's visa application to the Russian Consulate in the German city of Bonn was denied without explanation.
Rau was planning to shoot a documentary based on last year's trial against three Pussy Riot members, who were sentenced to prison for staging a protest song against President Vladimir Putin in a Moscow cathedral.
Yekaterina Samutsevich called the visa denial "a disgrace."
Samutsevich was among the three Pussy Riot members jailed last year, but was subsequently released.
Rau made headlines last year when police stormed a theater performance he directed in Moscow.
Officers accused him of visa violations, but then never pressed charges.
