Raikin, Mironov and Apfelbaum vouched for the ex-director of the Red Torch

Russian theatrical figures announced their readiness to become guarantors for Alexander Kulyabin, the former director of the Novosibirsk Red Torch Theater, who was detained on suspicion of embezzlement. Actors Yevgeny Mironov, Yulia Peresild, Konstantin Raikin, Elizaveta Boyarskaya and Alexander Baluev, as well as General Director of the Bolshoi Theater Vladimir Urin and Director of the RAMT Sofya Apfelbaum were among those who spoke in support of Mr. Kulyabin.

At the disposal of the magazine “Theatre” turned out to be copies of the petitions of the guarantors. According to the editorial staff of the publication, there could have been “much more” statements if Oksana Kosareva, director of the department of state support for art and folk art of the Russian Ministry of Culture, did not call theaters and recommend “not to sign any papers” in defense of the ex-director of the Red Torch.

Applications for guarantees will be submitted today during the meeting of the Central District Court of Novosibirsk on the choice of a measure of restraint for Mr. Kulyabin.

In December 2022, Alexander Kulyabin was removed from the post of director of the Red Torch, which he headed for 20 years. In April 2022, his son, Timofey Kulyabin, the theater’s chief director, resigned from his position and left Russia – he had previously been sharply critical of the Russian leadership’s policy towards Ukraine.

Alexander Kulyabin was detained on January 24. Consequence thinksthat he illegally paid a salary supplement to his son. It is expected that today the court will choose a measure of restraint for him.

Read more about the case of the director of the “Red Torch” – in the material “Kommersant” “The security forces looked behind the scenes”.

Andrey Sapozhnikov