Moscow police have detained a suspect in the January acid attack on the Bolshoi Ballet's artistic director, Sergei Filin, a statement on the official police website said Tuesday.
The police statement did not identify the suspect, but Interfax cited a police source as saying the suspect was not a member of the theater's ballet troupe.
According to the tabloid Lifenews, which is known to have strong links to law enforcement agencies, investigators found the suspect by wiretapping all the phone calls made near Filin's house around the time of the attack.
It has also been determined that the attacker had an accomplice.
The suspect was detained around 6 a.m. Tuesday in the Moscow region town of Stupino. Police are searching local places visited by the suspect and the Moscow apartment of his parents, Lifenews reported.
Filin, 42, was hospitalized with burns to his face and eyes after a masked attacker splashed acid on his face outside his apartment building on Troitskaya Ulitsa on Jan. 17.
He has undergone a number of surgeries on his face and eyes and may still need a few more, though it is not clear whether his eyesight will be fully restored.
Investigators linked the attack to Filin's job. Filin has said he knows the identity of his assailant but will not reveal who it is because of the ongoing criminal probe.
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.