Russian court imprisons theatrical figures for IS wives' play.
Yevgenia Berkovich (right) and Svetlana Petrichuk in court.
A military court in Moscow convicted a Russian playwright and a theatre director of "justifying terrorism".
Yevgenia Berkovich, the director, and Svetlana Petrichuk, the playwright, were both sentenced to six years in prison for producing their play The Brave Falcon Finist.
The drama is loosely based on true events and portrays the narrative of Russian women who traveled to Syria during the country's civil conflict to marry Islamic State soldiers.
The two women's lawyers have pledged to fight the verdict.
The trial, which was held partly behind closed doors, raised concerns among Russia's cultural community about freedom of expression.
In addition to being imprisoned, both ladies will be barred from "administering websites" for three years following their release.
They have been in jail since May 2023 and will now be moved to a correctional camp to finish their sentences, according to Russian news outlet RBC.
According to RBC, the prosecution said that the women had a positive attitude of IS, and prosecutor Yekaterina Denisova claimed that the play contained "signs of justification of terrorism".
Berkovich, 39, and Petrichuk, 44, stated at the start of the trial in late May that they had put on the performance because they were against terrorism.
"Prevent terrorism" was the stated goal of the performance, according to Berkovich, who also expressed her "nothing but condemnation and disgust" for terrorists.
"I have no idea what this word choice has to do with me at all... I have never adhered to any kind of Islam, extremist or otherwise," Berkovich was reported by RBC.
Throughout the trial, she and Petriychuk both insisted on their innocence.
Defense attorney Ksenia Karpinskaya declared that the hearing was "absolutely illegal" and "unfair" when the ladies were condemned, even though there was "little hope" for their case. The attorney went on, "I want you to know that these girls are absolutely innocent."
"Let me assure you that these girls are completely innocent," the attorney continued.
Berkovich's supporters have asserted that her trial was related to a collection of poetry she penned that were critical of Russia's military incursion into Ukraine.
The Kremlin has been putting more and more pressure on Russia's cultural community since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Actress Yulia Peresild and newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov are among the prominent Russian writers, artists, and journalists who have expressed support for the women.
Two Golden Mask Theatre Awards were given to the play for outstanding author and best costumes after its 2020 premiere.
Islamist militants have carried out fatal strikes against Russia in Dagestan and Moscow in recent months. Unfounded claims have been made by the Kremlin that Ukraine was engaged in both instances.
