A leading Bolshoi Theater ballerina said she wants to stay in Canada because of threats she has received.
Svetlana Lunkina told Izvestia that she had asked the Bolshoi to extend her leave, as she fears returning to Russia.
The request by Lunkina, one of the Bolshoi's top dancers, follows an attack earlier this month on the theater's artistic director, Sergei Filin, who was badly burned when an unidentified masked assailant threw sulfuric acid in his face.
Lunkina said the threats she received were linked to a conflict between her husband and a business partner over a movie about Mathilde Kschessinskaya, a Russian prima ballerina famous for her talent as a dancer and for her liaison with Russia's last czar, Nicholas II.
(AP)
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.