Russian court jails theatre figures over IS wives play

The prosecution of a director and a playwright has sent shockwaves through the artistic community.

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Director Yevgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petrichuk were sentenced to six years each for the production of their play The Brave Falcon Finist.

Loosely based on true events, the play tells the story of Russian women who travelled to Syria during the country's civil war to marry members of the Islamic State group.

The two women's defence lawyer vowed to appeal against the verdict.

Held partly behind closed doors, the trial heightened alarm about freedom of expression in Russia among members of the country's artistic community.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2gngxd8kdo

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