MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - The Russian Second Western District Military Court has sentenced theatre director Yevgeniya Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk to six years in a standard security penal colony each in a criminal case over justifying terrorism following the production of Finist the Brave Falcon, an Interfax correspondent reported.
"Berkovich and Petriychuk each shall be sentenced to six years' imprisonment with serving their sentences in a standard security penal colony," Judge Yury Massin said in his sentence read out on Monday.
Berkovich and Petriychuk are also banned for three years "from engaging in activities associated with the administration of websites of electronic and information and telecommunications networks, including on the Internet."
The restraining measure in the form of remand in custody for both defendants is left in place until the sentence takes legal effect.
Berkovich and Petriychuk were found guilty of justifying terrorism.
As reported, during the presentation of arguments, the public prosecutor sought a six-year sentence for Berkovich and Petriychuk and a ban on administering online resources for four years each.
The trial began in May this year. At the request of the public prosecutor, which said that there were threats against the litigating parties in the trial, its final part took place in camera.
Berkovich and Petriychuk were arrested in May 2023.
They are charged with justifying terrorism because of the Finist the Brave Falcon show, which according to the official announcement, is about "women who chose to virtually marry radical Islamists and go to Syria with them." Defense lawyers said in court the case involved posting a reading of the play on YouTube.
Berkovich and Petriychuk pleaded not guilty.
Finist the Brave Falcon is a play by Berkovich based on Petriychuk's script. It won the Golden Mask award as the Best Playwright and Best Costume Design in 2022.