You're reading: Moscow Times: Prominent Russian director Serebrennikov detained in fraud case

Moscow Times: Prominent Russian director Serebrennikov detained in fraud case

Published Aug. 22, 2017 at 5:44 pm

(FILES) This file photo taken on May 13, 2016 shows Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov posing during a photocall for the film "Uchenik (The Student)" at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. Russia's Investigative Committee said on August 22, 2017 that it has detained top theatre and film director Kirill Serebrennikov on suspicion of committing massive fraud. / AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCE

Photo by AFP

Prominent theater director Kirill Serebrennikov has been detained by authorities over fraud charges, Russia’s Investigative Committee said August 22 in an online statement.

Serebrennikov is facing charges of embezzling 68 million rubles ($1.1 million) in government funds as part of the “Platforma” project connected to his central Moscow Gogol Center. The director has denied the accusation, the statement said.