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MOSCOW, May 5. The Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow has arrested theater director Yevgenia Berkovich on charges of justifying terrorism, the correspondent said.
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" The petition of the investigation is to satisfy, to choose a measure of restraint in the form of detention for two months, until July 4, against Berkovich,» Judge Natalia Cheprasova announced the decision.
A criminal case was initiated for posting on YouTube a reading of the play Finist the Clear Sokol, which, according to the results of a multi-page «destructological examination», contained signs of justifying terrorism, the ideology of the terrorist group «Islamic State» * banned in Russia and jihadism. Berkovich herself pleaded not guilty.
The theater director's defense is appealing the court ruling. She asked either to reject the petition or to choose a measure of restraint in the form of bail, house arrest or personal guarantee. The investigator explained that Berkovich, being at large, can abscond from justice, «continue to engage in criminal activities and create false evidence of his innocence.»
Several actors, journalists and other public figures became guarantors for Berkovich. The defense noted that the performance «Finist the Clear Sokol» was performed, among other things, thanks to a grant from the Ministry of Culture, he received the Golden Mask and other awards, and the theatrical society, according to lawyers, understood its meaning unambiguously — «as condemning ties with radical Islam and crimes in this area.»
Together with the director, playwright Svetlana Petriychuk was also detained. They were charged under the article «Justification of terrorism using the Internet», which provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of five to seven years. Later, the court also sent Petriychuk to a pre-trial detention center for two months.
Berkovich staged the play «Finist Yasny Sokol» in Moscow based on Petriychuk's play. It tells about women who decide to virtually marry adherents of radical Islam and go to live with them in Syria.
* A terrorist organization banned in Russia.