A military court in Moscow has started the trial of theater director Yevgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriichuk, who are charged with justifying terrorism. The two women reiterated their innocence as the trial began on May 20. They were arrested in May 2023 following a production of the play Finist -- The Brave Falcon. The play is about Russian women who married Muslim men and moved to Syria. The play, first performed in December 2022, won Russia's Golden Mask national theater award. If convicted, the women face up to five years in prison each. To read the original story by RFE/RL, click here.
Trial Of Theater Director Berkovich, Playwright Petriichuk Starts In Moscow
Playwright Svetlana Petriichuk (left) and theater director Yevgenia Berkovich (file photo)