Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Angry protests as Russian court puts theatre director under house arrest
Source: The Guardian
Angry protests as Russian court puts theatre director under house arrest
Kirill Serebrennikov is accused of embezzling £900,000, but supporters say he is victim of crackdown on dissent
Howard Amos in Moscow
Wednesday 23 August 2017 17.32 BST
Hundreds of people gathered in central Moscow to protest outside a courtroom as a prominent Russian theatre director was placed under house arrest before a fraud trial that his supporters say is politically motivated.
Kirill Serebrennikov’s lawyer argued on Wednesday that his client should be released on bail, but the judge ruled there was a risk he would seek to influence other witnesses or destroy evidence.
“I am an honest man,” Serebrennikov, who denies the charges, told the court. “I have nothing apart from Russia and work in Russian culture.”
The arrest of the avant garde director on Tuesday, amid accusations he embezzled 68m roubles (£900,000), sent shockwaves through Russia’s artistic community and has raised fears of a crackdown on cultural freedoms.
-snip-
Kirill Serebrennikov is accused of embezzling £900,000, but supporters say he is victim of crackdown on dissent
Howard Amos in Moscow
Wednesday 23 August 2017 17.32 BST
Hundreds of people gathered in central Moscow to protest outside a courtroom as a prominent Russian theatre director was placed under house arrest before a fraud trial that his supporters say is politically motivated.
Kirill Serebrennikov’s lawyer argued on Wednesday that his client should be released on bail, but the judge ruled there was a risk he would seek to influence other witnesses or destroy evidence.
“I am an honest man,” Serebrennikov, who denies the charges, told the court. “I have nothing apart from Russia and work in Russian culture.”
The arrest of the avant garde director on Tuesday, amid accusations he embezzled 68m roubles (£900,000), sent shockwaves through Russia’s artistic community and has raised fears of a crackdown on cultural freedoms.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/23/russian-court-puts-theatre-director-under-house-arrest-kirill-serebrennikov
