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Attack on Sergei Filin not accidental – former chief choreographer

Alexei Ratmansky wished his colleague Filin soonest recovery and courage

MOSCOW, January 18 (Itar-Tass) — The attack on Bolshoi Theater Artistic Director Sergei Filin is not accidental, believes Alexei Ratmansky, who was the theatre's chief choreographer and ballet troupe artistic director from 2004 to 2008.

It is not accidental, he wrote in his Facebook website on Friday.

According to Ratmansky, speculators and ticket dealer, half-mad fans ready to cut the throats of opponents of their idols, cynical hackers, lies in the press and scandalous interviews of employees -- all is one "snow roll". A real trouble is the lack of theater ethics, which was destroyed in the Bolshoi gradually, the ex-ballet troupe director noted.

Ratmansky wished his colleague Filin soonest recovery and courage.

A criminal case is opened on charges of intentional inflicting of serious injuries. Bolshoi Theatre press secretary Katerina Novikova, who visited Filin in the hospital, told Itar-Tass that he had third-degree burns of his face and eyes. She also cited doctors as saying it would take Filin at least six months to recover.

Filin was attacked on Thursday night. An unknown masked man splashed acid into Filin's face. He is in hospital now. His mother and his wife are with him. Many people from the Bolshoi Theatre administration and the ballet troupe have visited him in the hospital.

According to Novikova, there were repeated threats addressed to Filin in recent time. A few days ago, some hacked his site in the Facebook network and placed information meant to discredit the artistic director in the eyes of the Bolshoi Theatre directorate. In addition, tires of Filin's car often were punctured, and other nasty things were done against him. But, despite all, it was hard to suppose that the things would come to such a crime, she said.