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Suspected mastermind of attack on Bolshoi artistic director denies his guilt

Sergei Filin, 42, was attacked near his home in Troitskaya Street in Moscow on January 17

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, March 7 (Itar-Tass) – Pavel Dmitrichenko, a soloist of Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre Ballet, who is suspected of organizing an attack on Bolshoi artistic director Sergei Filin, has pleaded not guilty.

Appearing at the Moscow’s Tagansky district court on Thursday, he denied his involvement in the offence.

“Your are sure I did it, I have never admitted my guilt,” he said.

Dmitrichenko, the suspected mastermind, was detained on March 5, together with Yuri Zarutsky, who has a previous criminal conviction, and driver Andrei Lipatov, who brought the perpetrator to the scene of crime.

Sergei Filin, 42, was attacked near his home in Troitskaya Street in Moscow on January 17. An unidentified man splashed acid in his face and fled. Filin wish rushed to hospital with serious face and eye burns. He was initially treated in Moscow, and is now in a German clinic.

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