Russian Theater Director Berkovich Sent To Pretrial Detention For Alleged Justification Of Terrorism

A Moscow court ruled on May 5 to send theater director Yevgenia Berkovich to pretrial detention until at least July 4 on suspicion of justification of terrorism in her production of the play Finist -- The Brave Falcon about Russian women who married Muslim men and moved to Syria. Berkovich pleaded not guilty, and her lawyers say they will appeal the ruling. Berkovich and the author of the play, Svetlana Petriichuk, were detained on May 4. The play, first performed in December 2020, won last year's Russia's Golden Mask national theater award. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.