Theatre director who annoys Russian establishment given house arrest

A theatre director whose edgy work angered traditionalists in the Russian establishment was placed under house arrest on Wednesday in a fraud case his supporters say is part of a government crackdown on artistic freedoms.

Ignoring character witness statements in his favour from high-profile figures in the arts world and an offer from one to pay any amount of bail, a Moscow court ruled award-winning director Kirill Serebrennikov should be placed under house arrest until October 19 ahead of his trial on embezzlement charges.

The director, who has used his work to poke fun at the authorities, lampooning what he sees as the pernicious role of the church and state in Russian society, told the court he was innocent as supporters outside, including some of the country’s most famous actors, chanted his name and demanded he be freed.

“All the accusations made against me are absurd,” Serebrennikov, 47, said from inside a metal cage in the courtroom. “I’ve been working honestly. I need to finish filming a movie and put shows on.”

But the court rejected his appeal to be freed on bail and granted a request from state prosecutors to place him under house arrest. Investigators say Serebrennikov led a criminal group and embezzled at least 68 million roubles (US$1.15 million) in state funds earmarked for an art project.

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky was quoted by state-run RIA news agency as saying of the case: “I know for sure this is not a frame-up.”