Russian dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko, the alleged mastermind of the acid attack that nearly blinded Bolshoi Ballet artistic director Sergei Filin, was sentenced to six years in prison on Tuesday.
The attack on Filin occurred back in January and he underwent surgery in Germany. He told the media that the attack followed weeks of threats and that he knew the attackers. Dmitrichenko reportedly confessed to being behind the attack, although he later denied that he was guilty when he testified during the trial.
"I had no animosity toward Filin," Dmitrichenko said. "Zarutsky committed the crime on his own."
Filin also testified, recounting how Dmitrichenko had threatened him and the professional jealousy that grew among members of the prestigious ballet company.
The prosecution had been seeking a labor camp sentence for Dmitrichenko and the maximum sentence was 12 years. However, he was sentenced to six years on Tuesday, reports Reuters.
Two other defendants were convicted in the attack. Yuri Zarutsky, who actually threw thee acid, received a 10-year prison sentence, while driver Andrei Lipatov received four years.
image: Wikimedia Commons
