Support The Moscow Times!

After Acid Attack, Bolshoi Director Undergoes Surgery

Bolshoi Theater director Sergei Filin, who last week suffered acid burns in an attack outside his apartment building, has undergone a successful plastic surgery on his face, Interfax reported Tuesday, citing the city's health department.

An unknown attacker splashed acid in Filin's face late Thursday and fled. Filin connected the attack with his work at the theater, but no suspects have been named.

As the theater's arts director for ballet, Filin has been choosing the repertoire and hiring and dismissing dancers. The attack could leave him partially blind.

It will take Filin at least six months to recover. He has appointed the theater's former principal dancer, Galina Stepanenko, as a temporary replacement, RIA-Novosti reported.

Since Filin, 42, was named director in March 2011, three leading dancers — Ivan Vasilyev, Natalya Osipova and Andrei Uvarov — have moved to other theaters.

Police said Tuesday that another artist from the Bolshoi Theater was attacked several days before the acid attack on Filin.

"On Jan. 11, near the Petrovsko-Razumovskaya metro station, unknown individuals provoked an argument with an extra from the Bolshoi Theater, Yevgeny Kulesh, after which they beat him up, took his phone and wallet, and ran off," a source in the police department told Interfax.

Kulesh was subsequently hospitalized with wounds of varying severity. His attack has not been linked to the one on Filin.

Related articles:

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more