Russian theater director Evgeniya Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk sentenced to 6 years in prison for “justifying terrorism”

Video: Supporters applaud Berkovich and Petriychuk as they are driven away in a police van after being sentenced to 6 years in prison. Source: Alexandra Astakhova / Mediazona

The play “Finist Yasny Sokol” was first performed in 2020 and won Russia’s most prestigious theater award, the Golden Mask, in two categories in 2022: Best Playwright (Petriychuk) and Best Costume Design.

The production tells the story of Russian women who decided to marry Islamists and travel to Syria, only to be recruited by militants. It was reported to law enforcement by members of the so-called “National Liberation Movement” («Национальное освободительное движение», НОД). They claimed that the play glorifies Islam and ISIS, “causes enmity” on religious grounds, insults Orthodox Christianity and is “an instrument of information warfare against Russia's security.”

Many prominent Russian cultural figures, including actors Ksenia Rappoport and Veniamin Smekhov, spoke in defense of the play during the trial. Smekhov, in particular, argued that the play does not justify terrorism, but on the contrary warns of its dangers, does not present a positive image of ISIS, and is intended for an experienced viewer who can understand the metaphor.

The National Liberation Movement, or NOD, is a pro-Putin nationalist political movement. Founded in 2011 by “ultra-patriotic” State Duma deputy Nikolay Fyodorov, the group aims to fight Russia's “enemies from within.” NOD has aggressively protested against Russia’s perceived enemies: the U.S. Embassy, opposition politicians, artists criticizing state censorship, and even foreign audit firms working in Russia.