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Bolshoi acid attack: Soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko guilty Bolshoi acid attack: Soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko guilty
(about 1 hour later)
A Russian court has found Bolshoi ballet soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko guilty of organising an acid attack on the company's artistic director. A Moscow court has found Bolshoi Ballet soloist Pavel Dmitrichenko guilty of organising an acid attack on the company's artistic director.
Two fellow defendants were also convicted of a part in the attack.Two fellow defendants were also convicted of a part in the attack.
Sulphuric acid was thrown at Bolshoi artistic director Sergei Filin outside his Moscow flat in January, badly damaging his eyesight.Sulphuric acid was thrown at Bolshoi artistic director Sergei Filin outside his Moscow flat in January, badly damaging his eyesight.
Dmitrichenko had admitted he wanted Mr Filin "roughed up" but had denied wanting acid thrown into his face.Dmitrichenko had admitted he wanted Mr Filin "roughed up" but had denied wanting acid thrown into his face.
The case has revealed bitter rivalries and infighting at the Bolshoi. Investigators said Dmitrichenko had organised the attack because of a conflict with Mr Filin.
In another development, the sudden resignation of the Bolshoi's music director and chief conductor, Vasily Sinaisky, was announced without explanation. The case has revealed bitter rivalries and infighting at the Bolshoi, one of Russia's most famous ballet and opera companies.
Sinaisky made no comment on his departure, according to Russian media. He had been due to conduct Verdi's opera Don Carlos, which is premiering at the theatre in two weeks.
Twenty operationsTwenty operations
Dmitrichenko and co-defendants Yuri Zarutsky and Andrei Lipatov are expected to be sentenced shortly.Dmitrichenko and co-defendants Yuri Zarutsky and Andrei Lipatov are expected to be sentenced shortly.
Prosecutors have called for the soloist to be jailed for nine years in a penal colony. They called for 10 years for Zarutsky, who admitted actually throwing the acid, and six for Lipatov, who drove Zarutsky to and from the scene of the attack. Prosecutors have called for the soloist to be jailed for nine years in a penal colony. They called for 10 years for former convict Zarutsky, who admitted actually throwing the acid, and six for Lipatov, who drove Zarutsky to and from the scene of the attack.
Zarutsky said that throwing acid in Filin's face was his own idea. Lipatov said he had not known where he was taking the other man. "Their guilt in committing the crime has been established in full," judge Yelena Maximova said on Tuesday.
Mr Filin has had more than 20 operations to try to save his eyesight. Zarutsky had argued that throwing acid in Filin's face was his own idea. Lipatov said he had not known where he was taking the other man.
Since the attack near his home in Moscow on 17 January, Mr Filin has had more than 20 operations to try to save his eyesight.
Following treatment in Germany, he returned to Moscow. Wearing dark glasses he gave evidence at the trial.Following treatment in Germany, he returned to Moscow. Wearing dark glasses he gave evidence at the trial.
Since the incident on 17 January, the Bolshoi has undergone a number of changes, appointing a new director, Vladimir Urin, who told the BBC in July that the company faced "difficult challenges". "The pain was immense and instant," he said of the attack.
"It had been a beautiful winter night: silent, white, great drifts of snow falling upon snow. I began scooping up handfuls of it and pressing them into my eyes and cheeks to relieve the agony."
Mr Filin denied he had had any conflict with the dancer, whom he accused of seeking to damage his reputation before the attack through false allegations of affairs with ballerinas and favouritism.
Defence witnesses sought to portray Mr Filin as authoritarian while Dmitrichenko was portrayed as a champion of other performers who feared to speak out against the artistic director.
Shock resignation
The Bolshoi has undergone a number of changes, appointing a new director, Vladimir Urin, who told the BBC in July that the company faced "difficult challenges".
On Monday, the sudden resignation of the Bolshoi's music director and chief conductor, Vasily Sinaisky, was announced without explanation.
Mr Sinaisky made no comment on his departure, according to Russian media. He had been due to conduct Verdi's opera Don Carlos, which is premiering at the theatre in two weeks.
In another development, the Bolshoi said it was not renewing the contract of an aide to Mr Filin, Dilyara Timergazina. Her contract expires at the end of this year.
A source told Russian daily Izvestia that Mr Filin himself would no longer work for the company after his own contract expired in 2016.