We appeal to the government of Italy, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and the governments of all democratic countries with the demand to use all diplomatic, political, humanitarian opportunities and levers for their release.

We appeal to everyone -
WHILE PEOPLE ARE IMPRISONED FOR CREATIVITY, THE WORLD IS NOT FREE OR SAFE

Freedom for director Zhenya Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk!

The case against them is a message for everyone: don't dare think, write, speak, create, perform.

In 2021, director Zhenya Berkovich staged a play based on Svetlana Petriychuk's play "Finist the Clear Falcon".
The play told the stories of lonely women who met and fell in love with men online, not knowing that they were terrorists.

The hope of finding love leads the heroines into the realities of war, violence and slavery.

The play "Finist the Clear Falcon" was nominated four times for the Golden Mask, the main theater award in Russia, and received an award in two nominations. The play ran for two years on the Moscow stage.

In 2023, the director and playwright were arrested.

They were charged with "justifying terrorism," which was allegedly contained in the play.
Despite the absurdity of the charge and the lack of evidence, a Russian court sentenced the creators of the play to SIX YEARS IN PRISON.
Read more about this here: Meduza, Guardian, Al Jazeera, AP News, Reuters
( "Finist, the Brght Falcon" Zhenya Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk )

Zhenya Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk have been in prison for two years.
Keeping innocent people in prison is a crime against humanity.
Creative people are an invaluable asset to humanity.
They are our hope.

Freedom for director Zhenya Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk!

THEIR FREEDOM IS OUR FREEDOM!

For evil to win, we just need to do nothing.
Your signature is important in the fight against violence and arbitrary rule.

https://www.change.org/p/leave-us-freedom-to-create

The petition was initiated by the Italian independent human rights association Nansen Passport.