Russian art community turns out to support detained director
MOSCOW — To a full house and rapturous applause more suited to one of his sold-out productions, Russian theatre and film director Kirill Serebrennikov appeared in court Wednesday and was placed under house arrest pending an investigation into charges that he embezzled government funds allocated for one of his projects.
Serebrennikov denies any wrongdoing, and the case against him is widely seen as part of a crackdown on freedom of expression in Russia.
His arrest Tuesday sent shockwaves through the Russian art community. Hundreds of well-wishes and colleagues gathered outside Moscow’s Basmanny Court on Wednesday to cheer him.
His cutting-edge productions include drama, opera and movies. He has won broad acclaim for satires mocking official lies, corruption and a growing hard-line streak in Russian society.