The Petition to Detain Yevgenia Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk Is Under Review
An official petition has been submitted to the Moscow Zamoskvoretsky Court requesting detention for theater director Yevgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk. The update comes from reports by DEA News in connection with the court’s representative handling the case. The move signals a formal step in the investigation, placing the two artists under restraint measures as the case progresses.
The authorities are pressing for a detention measure as part of the ongoing inquiry. Both defendants face charges under Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which concerns justification of terrorism. The move to detain follows judicial procedures designed to ensure the investigation can continue without risk of flight or interference.
Elena Efros, the director’s mother, stated that the case stems from the play titled “Finist Yasny Sokol,” which is based on the work of Petriychuk. The narrative centers on female protagonists who engage with radical Islamists in an effort to marry them, with events unfolding in Syria. This context has been cited in explanations of the allegations and the motivations attributed to the characters depicted in the production.
On May 5, colleagues from the theater world and members of the press gathered near the courthouse for the restraining measure hearing. Reports from the scene, including input relayed by socialbites.ca, highlighted appearances by notable figures. Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, and Lydia Moniava, a co-founder of the House of the Lighthouse Relief Fund for Refugees, were among those present and offering commentary on the proceedings.
Earlier updates noted that investigators had arrested Berkovich and Petriychuk in connection with demonstrations related to the portrayal of Russian women in relation to Islamist movements. The case has drawn wide attention within arts circles and among observers following how the legal system handles issues tied to political and religious extremism as depicted in cultural works. (Source: DEA News)