Detention of famous director upsets Russia’s artistic world
MOSCOW — In a move that sent a shockwave through Russia’s art community, investigators on Tuesday detained a prominent theatre director famous for his biting satire of Russian officialdom on charges of embezzling $1.1 million.
Kirill Serebrennikov, 47, who has won international acclaim for his productions spanning from drama to opera to movies, has denied the accusations.
The detention of Serebrennikov, whose productions mocking official lies, corruption and growing social conservatism have been hits for years, marks the first time since Soviet times when a theatre director faced official reprisals.
Top members of Russia’s cultural elite have strongly defended Serebrennikov, denouncing his detention as an act of intimidation.