The Zamoskvoretsky court in Moscow detained for two months the playwright Svetlana Petriychuk, who was detained in the case of justifying terrorism (Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) because of the play “Finist Yasny Sokol “. This was reported by an Russian media correspondent from the court.
Such restraint was demanded by the prosecution. Petriychuk and the director of the play Yevgenia Berkovich were arrested on May 4. Previously, a similar restraint was assigned to Berkovich, the case materials for them were considered separately.
“Finist Yasny Sokol” is a documentary performance by Evgenia Berkovich based on the play by Svetlana Petriychuk, which was presented at the Daughters of SOSO theater. The production told the stories of women who decided to virtually marry radical Islamists. The play is based on real protocols of interrogations of such women in Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In 2022, the show received the Golden Mask Theater Award for Best Work by a Playwright and Best Work by a Costume Designer.
According to the documents in the file, announced during a meeting on May 5, the investigators found the glorification of militants of the Islamic State* in the play Finist the Clear Falcon, as well as the ideology of radical feminism. The review was conducted by Roman Silantiev, Galina Khizrieva and Elena Zamyshevskaya. Lawyer Berkovich Ksenia Karpinskaya declared that they do not have the proper qualifications and proper education for the production of such studies, nevertheless, the results of their examination formed the basis of the criminal case.
Lawyer Petriychuk Sergey Badamshin underline that “in addition to the theatrical audience, the structures of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia also liked the performance.” The official website of the Federal Prison Service indicates that the play shows a hot topic – the propaganda of extremism and terrorism among young people.
The court agreed to attach to the case a screenshot of the UFSIN website, as well as guarantees for Petriychuk from artists, including director Andrei Zvyagintsev, journalist Ksenia Sobchak, composer Sergei Nevsky, psychologist Lyudmila Petranovskaya, actor Alexander Filippenko and others.
However, the judge refused to attach to the file an uncertified copy of an extract from the register of property rights in Moscow. Earlier, the court pointed out that Petriychuk lives in Germany. The coercive measure request also points out that Petriychuk “actually lives in Germany”, although she herself said that her German visa had already expired, reports Mediazona**.
“I do not intend to hide from the investigation, I intend to cooperate in any way possible. If you look at the passport that was taken from me, you will see that my German visa has already expired. I intend to appear whenever the investigation requires,” Petriychuk quoted the publication as saying.
The opening of a criminal case became known on the morning of May 4. Petriychuk and Berkovich were detained in the case as witnesses, later their status was changed to suspects. They both pleaded not guilty. In addition, in the case of justification of terrorism, Alexander Andrievich, director of the theatrical project “Girls of SOSO”, where the performance was presented, was questioned as a witness.
- a terrorist organization banned in Russia
** registered by the Ministry of Justice in the register of foreign agents
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