The National Theater canceled the performance of Andrey Moguchey with Lia Akhedzhakova

The Moscow Theater of Nations canceled the April screenings of the play “The Tale of the Last Angel”. This is reported on the theater’s website. The director-producer of the performance is Andrey Moguchy, one of the roles in it was performed by Liya Akhedzhakova. The press service of the theater explained the cancellation of performances as “technical reasons”. Earlier performances of this play, scheduled for June 19-20, were canceled in St. Petersburg. As RBC clarifies, this was the last performance with Akhedzhakova in Russia.

Both Moguchy and Akhedzhakova condemn the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. In February last year, Andrey Moguchy joined the appeal of cultural and artistic figures to stop the war. Liya Akhedzhakova repeatedly publicly criticized Vladimir Putin and spoke in support of Ukraine.

Theater “Sovremennyk”, in which Akhedzhakova worked since 1977, canceled the last performance with her participation, “The Gin Game”, in February. According to the actress, the director of the theater Yury Kravets then explained that the production was removed because of letters from viewers who condemned Akhedzhakova’s anti-war stance. After that, the actress resigned from the theater, but continues touring.

In April of this year, Akhedzhakov was reported to the General Prosecutor’s Office. The author of the denunciation demanded to check the actress on the articles of treason, “discrediting” the Russian army and inciting hatred or enmity. In addition, he asks to recognize the actress as a “foreign agent” and deprive her of state awards and titles.

On April 9, the Ministry of Culture of Russia did not renew the contract with Andrey Moguchy. He left the post of artistic director of the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater in St. Petersburg, which he held for 10 years.

• After a full-scale military invasion of the territory of Ukraine, the Russian authorities began to persecute, including cultural figures, who opposed the war. Hundreds of directors, actors, musicians and artists faced the impossibility of engaging in professional activities in Russia. Many were forced to leave the country.