Bolshoi dancer jailed for six years for acid attack

Dmitrichenko, alongside defendant Yuri Zarutsky and Andrei Lipatov, was found guilty on Tuesday of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to Sergei Filin.

“Their guilt in committing the crime has been established in full,” Judge Yelena Maximova said.

Dmitrichenko has admitted he wanted Filin (pictured, below) roughed up and had given Zarutsky the go-ahead to hit him, but said he had not wanted acid to be used.

The judge said Dmitrichenko had monitored Filin’s movements on the night of the attack and told Zarutsky by mobile phone the artistic director was on his way home from the theatre.

Zarutsky had then thrown acid in Mr Filin’s face.

Prosecutors said Dmitrichenko was motivated by a conflict with Filin, 43. In court last week, prominent former Bolshoi dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze said Filin had denied roles to both Dmitrichenko and his girlfriend, a ballerina.

Dmitrichenko was given a six year sentence, and Zarutsky was jailed for 10 years. Lipatov, who was accused of driving Zarutsky to and from the scene of the crime, was jailed for four years.

The dancer, who joined the Bolshoi as a teenager in 2002 and made his name playing villains such as the murderous tsar in the ballet “Ivan the Terrible”, had pleaded not guilty.

Zarutsky, who has admitted guilt, said that throwing acid in Mr Filin’s face was his own idea and he had not told Dmitrichenko of his plan.

Mr Filin lost most of the sight in one of his eyes and 20 percent in the other in the attack.

State prosecutors have asked for a nine-year sentence for Dmitrichenko, 10 years for Zarutsky and six years for Lipatov. Judge Maximova is expected to carry out sentence later on Tuesday.