The Moscow City Court changed the measure of restraint to director Kirill Serebrennikov from house arrest to a recognizance not to leave. The cinematographer was under arrest for more than a year and a half.
A similar decision was made in respect of the two other defendants in the case of embezzlement of state subsidies: producer Yuri Itin and director of the Russian Academic Youth Theater Sofia Apfelbaum.
“The court decided to Kirill Serebrennikov, Yuri Itin and Sofia Apfelbaum to change the measure of restraint from house arrest to a recognizance not to leave the place,” reports RIA Novosti.
In response to a question about whether he was satisfied with the decision of the court, the cinematographer noted that he would be satisfied only after being able to prove his innocence in court.
“I will be pleased when everything ends and we prove that we are not guilty. And so, of course, more pleasant, "- quotes RIA Novosti director.
In addition, in an interview with the agency Serebrennikov told about the next creative plans.
“We have performances, rehearsals of four projects and the play“ Our Alla ”(in the Gogol center. - RT ),” he said. The director also thanked everyone who supported him for the past year and a half.
The decision of the court has already commented on the deputies, as well as colleagues of the artist. The actress of the Gogol Center, Julia Aug, in an interview with RT, called the abolition of Serebrennikov's house arrest “great happiness”.
“I literally started screaming with happiness. It overwhelms. Despite the fact that this is only a small step forward, for all of us this is a huge victory. Because for 594 days Serebrennikov was under house arrest. 594 days a person was not allowed to work, and work for Cyril - the meaning of life. Now he can work normally, ”said Aug.
Responded to this news in the State Duma. The first deputy chairman of the committee on culture, Alexander Sholokhov, said that the preventive measure against Serebrennikov was initially excessive.
“I welcome any decision that simplifies and eases the situation of a person, because, in my opinion and in the opinion of so many people, the preventive measures were initially excessive. It remains only to welcome that humane principles triumph, ”RIA Novosti quotes him.
Last week, the Meshchansky Court of Moscow extended the term of house arrest to the director and other persons involved in the case for three months - until July 4. At the same time, the defense announced its intention to file a complaint for the extension of the house arrest.
The case of the "Seventh Studio"
In 2017, law enforcement agencies searched the apartment of Serebrennikov and the Gogol-Center theater created by him. At the same time, a criminal case was initiated under the article “Theft on a particularly large scale”.
At first, Serebrennikov passed through him as a witness, but in August 2017 he was officially charged with fraud. After that, the director was detained right during the filming of the film "Summer" in St. Petersburg, and then placed under house arrest.
According to the case file, in 2011, Kirill Serebrennikov created the Platform project to popularize contemporary art. The program of cultural events for him was developed by the autonomous non-profit organization “The Seventh Studio” founded by him.
- Kirill Serebrennikov
- RIA News
- © Valery Melnikov
The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation allocated 214 million rubles for the implementation of these projects. The investigation believes that the team of the Seventh Studio provided inaccurate information about the number and cost of the projects developed by it, concluded fictitious contracts for holding non-existent events, and stole money. As a result of these actions, more than 130 million rubles were allegedly stolen from the budget.
The accused in this case are director Kirill Serebrennikov, ex-director of Gogol Center Alexey Malobrodsky and producer Yury Itin and director of the Russian Academic Youth Theater Sofia Apfelbaum. Another person involved - the accountant of the “Seventh Studio” Nina Maslyaeva - admitted her guilt, so her case was allocated in a separate production. The trial will begin on April 11th.
The investigation also suspects Ekaterina Voronova, the former producer of the Seventh Studio, that she destroyed part of the organization’s accounting documents. She is currently on the international wanted list.
Serebrennikov himself and other defendants in the case reject the accusations. According to them, all budget funds were used for their intended purpose. Almost 80 people vouched for the director, including actors, directors, journalists and public figures, such as Alisa Freindlikh, Stanislav Govorukhin, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Filipp Kirkorov, Danila Kozlovsky, Pavel Lungin and Oleg Basilashvili.