Russian Theater Director Remanded in Custody for Alleged Terrorism Justification

Russian theater director Yevgenia Berkovich has been remanded in custody for two months after being accused of justifying terrorism with an award-winning play about Russian women who married Islamic State fighters. The play, "Finist, the Brave Falcon," premiered in 2020 under Berkovich's direction and won two "Golden Mask" national theatre awards. The detention of Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk has drawn condemnation from several prominent Russian artists and cultural figures, who argue that the play has an anti-terrorist message.