Bolshoi dancer sentenced to six years for acid attack

A Bolshoi ballet dancer has been jailed to six years for his role in an acid attack on the theatre’s artistic director in January, which almost left him blind. Soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko, 29, was found guilty of ordering the attack on Sergei Filin, who suffered severe burns to his eyes and face, and had to undergo months of restorative treatment.

HIs co-defendant, Yuri Zarutsky, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for throwing the acid while a second, Andrei Lipatov, received four years for his role as the getaway driver. In the trial, Dmitrichenko confessed to ordering Zarutsky to hit Filin “on the nose” but denied asking him to use acid. Zarutsky confirmed the claim.

The attack exposed the bitter rivalries at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre where dancers compete aggressively for major roles. According to prosecutors, Dmitrichenko ordered the assault as payback after Filin had refused him and his partner Anzhelina Vorontsova a number of key parts.

Source: New York Times