LONDON – The judge in the trial of two prominent Russian theatre figures, accused of “justifying terrorism,” has approved a request from prosecutors to bar journalists and the public from attending the remainder of the proceedings. The trial concerns director Zhenya Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk, who were arrested in May last year for their production “Finist, the Brave Falcon,” a play about Russian women who married Islamic State fighters.
This case is a significant legal landmark in Russia, testing the limits of artistic freedom. Berkovich and Petriychuk are the most prominent cultural figures to go on trial since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, an event that prompted many artists, directors, and writers to flee abroad.
Judge Yuri Massin approved the prosecutors’ request to close the trial due to alleged threats to some participants that had surfaced in a newspaper and on Telegram channels, according to independent news outlet Mediazona. It remains unclear who had been threatened or the nature of the threats.
The decision to close the trial came on the ninth day, just as the defence was about to present its evidence. Defence lawyer Sergei Badamshin interpreted the move as an indication of the prosecution’s weak case. “On the one hand, this pleases the defence side – we are on the right track. On the other hand, it is manipulation,” Mediazona quoted him as saying.
Supporters of Berkovich, 39, and Petriychuk, 44, including fellow artists, human rights defenders, and free speech advocates, have rallied to their defense. Both deny any wrongdoing and face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
“I staged the performance to prevent terrorism,” Berkovich said at the opening of the trial last month, expressing “nothing but condemnation and disgust” towards terrorists.
Shortly before the trial began, Berkovich and Petriychuk were added to Russia’s official list of “terrorists and extremists,” joining many others similarly designated amid a crackdown on perceived subversive activities, which intensified following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The prosecution’s case relies partly on testimony from an anonymous witness, referred to as “Nikita,” who secretly recorded the production and submitted the footage to authorities. “Nikita” testified that the play portrayed terrorists as victims and implicated the Russian state and society in pushing young girls towards joining Islamic State. He requested anonymity, citing fears for his career and personal safety if his identity were revealed.
While the Kremlin has refrained from commenting on individual cases, it maintains that Russia is in an existential struggle with the West and must rigorously enforce its laws and defend itself.