The acid attack that sidelined the Bolshoi Ballet's artistic director in January cost its suspected mastermind a mere 50,000 rubles ($1,600), a police spokesperson told Interfax on Thursday.
That's the sum Bolshoi ballet soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko allegedly paid to have an accomplice fling sulfuric acid at ballet director Sergei Filin, damaging his eyesight and disfiguring his face.
Police said Dmitrichenko's motive was "personal enmity … linked to work activities" at the Bolshoi, where he had recently played the lead role of Ivan the Terrible in the eponymous ballet.
Dmitrichenko, 28, despised Filin for the artistic director's refusal to give a lead role to Dmitrichenko's girlfriend, another Bolshoi dancer, Angelina Vorontsova, Izvestia reported.
Dmitrichenko, a driver, and the alleged assailant were detained Tuesday and wrote confessions, according to a statement on the police department's website.
They face up to 12 years in prison on charges of causing grave bodily harm. The three are expected to be officially charged Thursday.
Filin suffered severe burns to his face and eyes when he was attacked outside his apartment building in downtown Moscow on the night of Jan. 17. It is unclear whether his eyesight will be fully restored.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
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 every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
