Bolshoi director in acid attack
Source: Agencies |
January 20, 2013, Sunday
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A MASKED attacker threw acid in the face of the artistic director of Russia's prestigious Bolshoi Ballet, endangering his eyesight, in what colleagues said on Friday was the culmination of a two-week campaign of intimidation.
Sergei Filin, a former leading dancer at the Bolshoi who has been in the high-pressure job at the heart of Russian culture for nearly two years, was attacked outside his Moscow apartment building as he returned home on Thursday night.
Current and former colleagues suggested the motive could have been envy, rivalry or even competition for roles.
Filin, his face covered in bandages with holes for the mouth and eyes, sounded relieved to have survived the attack.
"I was scared. I thought he was going to shoot me, honestly ... and I turned to run but he chased me down," Filin told Russia's REN TV. "He turned and his face was completely covered, either a scarf or some bandage like a mask, only eyes (to be seen)."
The theater's director, Anatoly Iksanov, had no doubt the attack was aimed at sowing discord in the institution.
Filin, 42, had reported having his car tires slashed and his emails hacked in recent weeks, as well as receiving repeated nuisance calls.
"This two-week campaign has ended tragically and despicably," Iksanov said, adding that the culprit "should be sought among those for whom it was beneficial to compromise the theater leadership."
Bolshoi spokeswoman Katerina Novikova had been out with Filin on Thursday evening. "We never thought that the war for roles - not for real estate, not for oil - could reach such a criminal level," she said.
Relatives, dancers and theater administrators flocked overnight to the hospital where Filin was being treated, and later gathered at the theater.
"There are serious burns on his face, his ears, his forehead, his mouth, and of course there are serious concerns about his eyesight," Iksanov said.
Interfax news agency quoted the theater as saying Filin had undergone successful surgery and that a complete loss of eyesight was not expected.
Sergei Filin, a former leading dancer at the Bolshoi who has been in the high-pressure job at the heart of Russian culture for nearly two years, was attacked outside his Moscow apartment building as he returned home on Thursday night.
Current and former colleagues suggested the motive could have been envy, rivalry or even competition for roles.
Filin, his face covered in bandages with holes for the mouth and eyes, sounded relieved to have survived the attack.
"I was scared. I thought he was going to shoot me, honestly ... and I turned to run but he chased me down," Filin told Russia's REN TV. "He turned and his face was completely covered, either a scarf or some bandage like a mask, only eyes (to be seen)."
The theater's director, Anatoly Iksanov, had no doubt the attack was aimed at sowing discord in the institution.
Filin, 42, had reported having his car tires slashed and his emails hacked in recent weeks, as well as receiving repeated nuisance calls.
"This two-week campaign has ended tragically and despicably," Iksanov said, adding that the culprit "should be sought among those for whom it was beneficial to compromise the theater leadership."
Bolshoi spokeswoman Katerina Novikova had been out with Filin on Thursday evening. "We never thought that the war for roles - not for real estate, not for oil - could reach such a criminal level," she said.
Relatives, dancers and theater administrators flocked overnight to the hospital where Filin was being treated, and later gathered at the theater.
"There are serious burns on his face, his ears, his forehead, his mouth, and of course there are serious concerns about his eyesight," Iksanov said.
Interfax news agency quoted the theater as saying Filin had undergone successful surgery and that a complete loss of eyesight was not expected.
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