This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/mar/05/bolshoi-director-acid-attack-arrest

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police investigating Bolshoi director acid attack arrest three men Police investigating Bolshoi director acid attack arrest three men
(7 months later)
Police have arrested three men suspected of carrying out the acid attack on the director of the Bolshoi ballet, including a leading dancer, in a scandal that has exposed the treacherous dramas unfolding behind the theatre's famed stage.Police have arrested three men suspected of carrying out the acid attack on the director of the Bolshoi ballet, including a leading dancer, in a scandal that has exposed the treacherous dramas unfolding behind the theatre's famed stage.
Dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko was detained on Tuesday and was believed to have ordered the attack on his director, Sergei Filin, police said in a statement. Two other men, Yury Zarutsky, identified as the suspected attacker, and Andrei Lipatov, suspected of being the getaway driver, were also detained.,Dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko was detained on Tuesday and was believed to have ordered the attack on his director, Sergei Filin, police said in a statement. Two other men, Yury Zarutsky, identified as the suspected attacker, and Andrei Lipatov, suspected of being the getaway driver, were also detained.,
The stunning turn of events came nearly two months after the attack, which left Filin fighting for his sight and Moscow's cultural world questioning the sanctity of its stages.The stunning turn of events came nearly two months after the attack, which left Filin fighting for his sight and Moscow's cultural world questioning the sanctity of its stages.
A masked attacker approached Filin when he was returning home late on the evening of 17 January and threw the contents of a jar filled with sulphuric acid at his face. Filin suffered severe burns to his face and neck and underwent several operations to restore his eyesight and repair his skin. He is currently undergoing further treatment in Germany.A masked attacker approached Filin when he was returning home late on the evening of 17 January and threw the contents of a jar filled with sulphuric acid at his face. Filin suffered severe burns to his face and neck and underwent several operations to restore his eyesight and repair his skin. He is currently undergoing further treatment in Germany.
From the beginning, Filin insisted the attack was linked to his work at the theatre. Filin, backed by the Bolshoi leadership, had clashed publicly with several dancers. Some wanted his job, others wanted more dancing roles, he said.From the beginning, Filin insisted the attack was linked to his work at the theatre. Filin, backed by the Bolshoi leadership, had clashed publicly with several dancers. Some wanted his job, others wanted more dancing roles, he said.
Katerina Novikova, spokeswoman for the theatre, said earlier on Tuesday that she knew of "no bitter rivalry" between Filin and Dmitrichenko.Katerina Novikova, spokeswoman for the theatre, said earlier on Tuesday that she knew of "no bitter rivalry" between Filin and Dmitrichenko.
Dmitrichenko, a strong dancer with a shock of blonde hair, has been with the Bolshoi since 2002. He has made a name for himself by dancing the role of villains, including the role of tsar Ivan the Terrible in the ballet of the same name and the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart in Swan Lake.Dmitrichenko, a strong dancer with a shock of blonde hair, has been with the Bolshoi since 2002. He has made a name for himself by dancing the role of villains, including the role of tsar Ivan the Terrible in the ballet of the same name and the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart in Swan Lake.
Police did not suggest a motive for the attack.Police did not suggest a motive for the attack.
Dmitrichenko is reportedly close to Nikolai Tsiskaridze, the flamboyant principal dancer against whom the Bolshoi leadership had directed much of its wrath as the police investigation unfolded. The theatre's general director, Anatoly Iksanov, accused Tsiskaridze of creating a poisonous atmosphere inside the theatre. Tsiskaridze had repeatedly denied any involvement in the attack on Filin.Dmitrichenko is reportedly close to Nikolai Tsiskaridze, the flamboyant principal dancer against whom the Bolshoi leadership had directed much of its wrath as the police investigation unfolded. The theatre's general director, Anatoly Iksanov, accused Tsiskaridze of creating a poisonous atmosphere inside the theatre. Tsiskaridze had repeatedly denied any involvement in the attack on Filin.
Although long plagued by behind-the-scenes drama and intrigue, the Bolshoi theatre had, until January, managed to avoid the violence that has marked conflicts in Russia's business world.Although long plagued by behind-the-scenes drama and intrigue, the Bolshoi theatre had, until January, managed to avoid the violence that has marked conflicts in Russia's business world.
The scandals have been growing ever more dirty and public in recent years, however. Filin's predecessor quit after erotic photos of him were leaked online.The scandals have been growing ever more dirty and public in recent years, however. Filin's predecessor quit after erotic photos of him were leaked online.
The arrests came after a series of spectacular raids that lasted throughout the day on Tuesday. Police carried out a pre-dawn raid in the Moscow suburb of Stupino, home to a compound of dachas, or summer homes, that belongs to the Bolshoi. They then searched a flat that belongs to Dmitrichenko in the same block of flats in central Moscow where Filin lives and in whose courtyard the attack took place.The arrests came after a series of spectacular raids that lasted throughout the day on Tuesday. Police carried out a pre-dawn raid in the Moscow suburb of Stupino, home to a compound of dachas, or summer homes, that belongs to the Bolshoi. They then searched a flat that belongs to Dmitrichenko in the same block of flats in central Moscow where Filin lives and in whose courtyard the attack took place.
The suspected attacker, 35-year-old Zarutsky, was later detained in the Tver region, around 100 miles from Moscow. Police said he had a previous criminal record. Russian media reported that Lipatov, the suspected driver, was unemployed.The suspected attacker, 35-year-old Zarutsky, was later detained in the Tver region, around 100 miles from Moscow. Police said he had a previous criminal record. Russian media reported that Lipatov, the suspected driver, was unemployed.
Novikova, the Bolshoi's spokeswoman, declined to comment on the arrests. Earlier on Tuesday, before the news of Dmitrichenko's arrest emerged, she said the theatre was "glad" that the police investigation had led to an arrest.Novikova, the Bolshoi's spokeswoman, declined to comment on the arrests. Earlier on Tuesday, before the news of Dmitrichenko's arrest emerged, she said the theatre was "glad" that the police investigation had led to an arrest.
She also said she hoped that Filin, whom doctors believe will recover his eyesight, would be back at the Bolshoi in time for the theatre's summer tour to London.She also said she hoped that Filin, whom doctors believe will recover his eyesight, would be back at the Bolshoi in time for the theatre's summer tour to London.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.