Bolshoi dancer Dmitrichenko on trial over acid attack

A Bolshoi Ballet soloist has gone on trial over an
acid attack on the company's artistic director in
January.
Dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko is accused of organising of
the attack on Sergei Filin, whose eyesight was badly
damaged when sulphuric acid was thrown at him
outside his Moscow flat.
Mr Dmitrichenko denies arranging the attack. If
convicted, the dancer could face 12 years in jail.
The attack revealed bitter infighting and rivalries inside
the Bolshoi.
Also on trial are the man accused of throwing the acid,
Yuri Zarutsky, and Andrei Lipatov, who allegedly drove
the getaway car.
As the trial began on Tuesday, the tiny Moscow
courtroom where it was taking place was packed with
journalists as the defendants were led into a caged
dock.
'Public resonance'
After initially admitting to masterminding the attack, Mr
Dmitrichenko later said he had discussed an assault on
Mr Filin but not the use of acid.
Following a pre-trial hearing, Mr Dmitrichenko's lawyer
alleged that the defendant had been beaten by masked
police - a claim that the Russian interior ministry has
denied.
On Monday, ahead of the trial in Moscow, lawyer
Sergei Kadyrov said: "Dmitrichenko does not consider
himself guilty of causing grave harm to Filin's health."
"I hope the court will be able to distance itself from the
public resonance of this case and deliver a well-
grounded and just verdict."
Mr Filin has had more than 20 operations to try to save
his eyesight.
Following treatment in Germany, he returned to
Moscow for the inauguration of the Bolshoi's season
last month, wearing dark glasses.
In March, more than 300 members of the Bolshoi
Ballet wrote to President Vladimir Putin, saying that the
idea that Mr Dmitrichenko was behind the crime was
"absurd".