- Two theatre workers, a director and playwright, were arrested in Moscow accused of 'justifying terrorism' in a play about Russian women who joined Isis.
- The case marks the first time since the Soviet era a high-profile criminal case has been opened over the contents of a theatre play.
- Purges and persecution have torn through Russia's cultural scene since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year and the corresponding domestic crackdown on dissent.
- The persecution of individuals over the contents of a respected play was intended to send a warning to everyone.
- Both have strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Russia arrests two theatre workers on ‘justifying terrorism’ charges
Case marks first time since Soviet era that a high-profile criminal case opens over contents of a theatre play
Polina Ivanova
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/6W5WJY7T4NLKVFJO5JX37LPYS4.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/OGBROYPEZVMVNLCKMBDIE2XJCE.jpg)
