Liya Akhedzhakova, a People’s Artist of Russia, reportedly left the Moscow Sovremennik Theatre of her own accord. The theater confirmed the departure, noting that April 5 marked the actor’s last day with the company as reported by Interfax.
According to Sovremennik, Akhedzhakova resigned voluntarily and, as a result, ongoing professional relations with the theater could not continue.
By the evening of April 9, her professional profile still appeared online with three of her roles listed in current productions — Nuria in First Bread, Fonsia Dorsi in Gin Game, and Zina Abramova in The Vertical Path. None of these performances were still on stage, and there was no official statement that the artist had left the theater beyond the cited resignation.
Akhedzhakova has not spoken publicly about the termination. In a prior interview, she hinted that a trial could follow, but she did not disclose specifics without legal counsel.
Scandal at the theatre
On February 8, Sovremennik announced the replacement of Gin Game without providing a reason for the cancellation. Akhedzhakova later said that the theater’s director, Yuri Kravets, felt compelled to cancel the production because the Moscow Ministry of Culture, to which the theater reports, had requested it. Kravets also noted that Sovremennik had begun receiving letters criticizing the actress.
Akshedzhakova revealed to Novaya Gazeta near the end of March that she had left the theater of her own accord.
On April 3, Sovremennik stated that it had not received a formal letter of resignation from Akhedzhakova, insisting she remained in the ensemble and was paid according to the roster.
Officials asserted that she is an emotional performer who writes a lot but that no one had dismissed her.
About a month earlier, Akhedzhakova sent a farewell message to the stage, thanking supporters for their enduring encouragement.
“I did not have the chance to say goodbye to the stage that gave me the opportunity to express my love for the playwrights, the directors, and my colleagues. My stage has been a source of joy and discovery,” the message read without further details.
Stance on SVO
At eighty-four, Akhedzhakova has been a Sovremennik member since 1977 and is a GITIS graduate from 1962. Her career has earned multiple awards, including the Nick Prize.
She has not supported the Russian military operation in Ukraine and has repeatedly criticized the policy of the Russian authorities in interviews.
In late February 2022, media reports claimed she had transferred ten thousand dollars to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Akhedzhakova did not confirm the transfer. She questioned the notion of directing funds to the army, noting the vast global aid already reaching Ukraine and wondering what a relatively small sum could truly accomplish.
Several colleagues spoke out against the harassment she faced for antiwar views. Actress Alena Yakovleva suggested that while she did not endorse Akhedzhakova’s stance, she should be left alone given her age and history in the theater. Yakovleva’s remarks were shared on a video program, emphasizing that Akhedzhakova’s contributions deserved respect.
TV host Oscar Kuchera also voiced support, pointing out the difficulties of public reception and offering a balanced perspective on the controversy while avoiding judgment about the individual’s personal beliefs.