Bolshoi Ballet Soloist on Trial over Acid Attack on Director
World | October 22, 2013, Tuesday // 12:13
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Pavel Dmitrichenko has been accused of organising an acid attack on the company's artistic director Sergei Filin. Photo by bolshoi.ru
A Bolshoi Ballet soloist is to face the court on Tuesday in a high-profile trial, which has revealed tensions are running high at the Bolshoi.
Pavel Dmitrichenko has been accused of organising an acid attack on the company's artistic director Sergei Filin in January, which left his eyesight badly damaged.
If found guilty, the dancer could face 12 years in jail. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Also on trial are the man accused of throwing the acid, Yuri Zarutsky, and Andrei Lipatov, who allegedly drove the getaway car.
After initially admitting to masterminding the attack, Mr Dmitrichenko later said he had discussed an assault on Filin but not the use of acid.
On Monday, ahead of the trial in Moscow, his lawyer Sergei Kadyrov said: "Dmitrichenko does not consider himself guilty of causing grave harm to Filin's health."
"I hope the court will be able to distance itself from the public resonance of this case and deliver a well-grounded and just verdict."
In March, more than 300 members of the Bolshoi Ballet wrote to President Vladimir Putin, saying that the idea that Dmitrichenko was behind the crime was "absurd".
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