People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Liya Akhedzhakova is asked to open three criminal cases, including treason. TASS writes that this call was made by Vitaly Borodin, head of the Federal Project for Security and Anti-Corruption, to Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov.
“We ask you to bring Liya Akhedzhakova to criminal liability for committing a crime in accordance with Art. The appeal says 275 (“Treason”), 280.3 (“Public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the RF Armed Forces”) and 282 (“incitement to hatred or enmity”) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Also, Borodin, due to Akhedzhakova’s position in the SVO in Ukraine, wants to recognize her as a foreign agent and deprive her of state titles and awards. The letter states that after leaving the theater, the actress, who lives in Russia, constantly gives interviews to Ukrainian television channels and openly wishes victory for Ukraine.
Also, according to Borodin, Akhedzhakova admitted on social networks that she supported the Ukrainian army with money by transferring $ 10,000, and urged other people to follow her example. The artist himself denied this information. “Well, how can you transfer money to the army? I can’t even imagine how this could be done. Moreover, what is now 10 thousand dollars for the Ukrainian army? You yourself understand when billions from all over the world come to them, ”she said.
On December 28, Borodin had already applied to the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding Akhedzhakova, but later asked him to recognize her only as a foreign agent.
Vitaly Borodin, head of the Federal Security and Anti-Corruption Project, is known for his numerous submissions to the Attorney General’s Office about celebrities and the media. The artist demanded to check Dmitry Bilan for drugs and urged Olga Buzova to deprive her of Instagram (the owner of Meta was considered an extremist in Russia and was banned). It was the research journal “Project” that first caught his attention. This was followed by a call to the artist Danila Kozlovsky (to control extremism and discredit the army), Diana Arbenina (to discredit the army), Valery Meladze (to finance the Armed Forces of Ukraine) and others. Borodin also looked for LGBT propaganda in video games and tried to understand how Alexei Navalny (included in the list of terrorists and extremists) used the Internet in detention.
Cancellations and complaints
On February 8, the Sovremennik Theater announced that the play The Gin Game was replaced with the participation of Akhedzhakova, without explaining the reason for the cancellation. According to the artist, theater director Yuri Kravets said that he was “forced” to change the production at the request of the Moscow Ministry of Culture, to which the theater is affiliated. He also noted that the theater received letters criticizing the actor.
On March 10, the People’s Artist of Russia of his own free will wrote a letter of resignation from the theater. According to Akhedzhakova, she plans to engage in touring activities and has not yet considered the possibility of leaving Russia. However, on the same day, Sovremennik denied this news. Still, all the performances in which Akhedzhakova participated were excluded from the repertoire, and special performances in the regions of the country were canceled.
He also said goodbye to the stage in an open letter to Novaya Gazeta on March 10 and thanked his fans for their support.
“I didn’t have time to say goodbye to my stage. Dear, dear stage, you have given me the opportunity to confess, declare my love to people I love, admire and respect. What playwrights! What directors! What partners! the letter says.
On April 9, the theater reported that the actor was leaving.
Location of Akhedzhakova
From the very beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, Akhedzhakova opposed the conduct of the operation in an interview with the Ukrainian media and Instagram. She also stated that she wanted to come to Ukraine “after her victory,” she said.
“To be honest, I am ashamed of my compatriots. Probably only they can write so many terrible words. It is very indicative compared to messages from Ukrainians, which in 99% do not contain insults and threats. You can immediately see who is superior to whom, ”wrote Akhedzhakova.
Some artists opposed the harassment of Akhedzhakova because of her position. So, actress Alena Yakovleva in the broadcast of the YouTube program “So to Say” said that Akhedzhakova “does not welcome” her position, but “it is not necessary to be like that with her.” “Liya Medzhidovna is already a very old person. I think it should be left alone. He was always like that,” she said.
Yakovleva’s position was supported by artists Mikhail Shirvindt and Oleg Basilashvili.