This was reported by "Hromadske" with reference to the press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleg Nikolenko.

“In Italian Naples, at the request of Russia, on December 17, the chief director of the Odessa Opera, Yevgeny Lavrenchuk, was detained,” the newspaper said.

It is noted that the Ukrainian director is in custody, he has been provided with a lawyer.

It will be clarified that he was chosen to be in custody for the period of consideration of the extradition request from Russia.

The curator of the Free Eugene Lavrenchuk Facebook group, Marianna Gudich-Paliy, said that the request was related to an accusation of some financial violations committed by Lavrenchuk eight years ago in Russia.

Lavrenchuk has been the chief director of the Odessa National Opera and Ballet Theater since 2018.

Lavrenchuk also founded the Polish Theater in Moscow.

Earlier, Ukrainian journalist Roman Tsimbalyuk said that he left Russia after being summoned for questioning by the prosecutor's office.