Colony Authorities Have Imposed a Ban on Director Zhen Berkovich's Participation
In a surprising turn of events, acclaimed Russian theatre director Genya Berkovič has had her performing activities restricted within the corrective colony where she is currently serving her sentence. The ban, reported by the Telegram channel "Berkonovosti" of her supporters, comes amidst ongoing legal troubles related to her play, "Finist the Bright Falcon."
Berkovič, who was transferred to a corrective colony in the Kostroma region in February, has expressed her intention to prepare a play with readings of family histories and memories of people's lives during the Great Patriotic War. However, her plans have been put on hold due to the ban on her performing activities.
The ban does not seem to be linked to her work on "Finist the Bright Falcon," as no new information about the play causing Berkovič's legal troubles was provided. Last summer, Berkovič and playwright Svetlana Petrichuk were sentenced to six years in prison for justifying terrorism in the play "Finist the Bright Falcon."
Despite the restrictions, Berkovič continues to work in the sewing and cutting workshop within the colony. In December, the court reduced Berkovič's sentence to five years and seven months, but this reduction did not change her ban on performing activities in the colony.
It is worth noting that both Berkovič and Petrichuk are included in Rosfinmonitoring's list of those involved in extremism and terrorism. The play "Finist the Bright Falcon" tells the story of women who decided to marry representatives of radical Islam and move to Syria with them.
In a recent development, Berkovič participated in a competition of mini puppet theater performances in the colony. The details of her participation, however, remain unclear.
The restrictions on Berkovič's performing activities have raised concerns among her supporters and the wider theatre community. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Berkovič will navigate these challenges and continue her work in the arts.
The restrictions on Genya Berkovič's performing activities within the corrective colony have stirred unrest among her supporters and the broader theatre community, given her intention to prepare a play about family histories and memories from the Great Patriotic War. This ban does not appear to be related to her work on "Finist the Bright Falcon," which landed her and playwright Svetlana Petrichuk a six-year prison sentence last summer for justifying terrorism.
Amidst these ongoing legal woes, Berkovič's plans to engage in general-news and family-oriented theatre seem to have collided with her current role as an inmate involved in sewing and cutting workshop, leaving her interested in crime-and-justice issues and sports embattled by these restrictions.
