The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upheld the verdict of Berkovich and Petriychuk.

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upheld the verdict of theater director Evgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk (included in the list of terrorists and extremists) convicted of justifying terrorism. This was reported on August 19 by a correspondent of Izvestia from the courtroom.

Lawyers Berkovich and Petriychuk filed a cassation appeal against the verdict and demanded that it be overturned. So, Svetlana Petriychuk's defense called the punishment unfair, and Berkovich's lawyer declared his client's innocence.

"The court upheld the verdict," the correspondent reported.

The Second Western District Military Court sentenced the women to six years in prison on July 8 last year. They were found guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Public justification of terrorism using the Internet"). The names of the director and the playwright were also included in the list of terrorists and extremists.

On December 25, 2024, the Military Court of Appeal commuted the sentence of the women. Berkovich's sentence was reduced by five months to five years and seven months in prison. Petriychuk — for two months — up to five years and ten months.

The criminal case against the defendants was initiated because of the play "Finist - the Clear Falcon," which, according to the investigation, has signs of justifying terrorism. The plot of the play is dedicated to women who have decided to virtually marry radical Islamists and go to them in Syria. During the creation of the play, real negotiations and interrogation protocols of these people were used. Both defendants plead not guilty to the crime.

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