Svetlana (Sveta) Petriychuk is a renowned Russian playwright who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in Russia for writing the award-winning play Finist the Bright Falcon.
In modern Russia, this is the first case of criminal prosecution and imprisonment of theatre professionals for their creative work.
Finist the Bright Falcon is a documentary play that exposes the dangers of online radicalization by ISIS. Yet, in a politically motivated trial, the play was absurdly labeled as “justifying terrorism.” Sveta now faces harsh prison conditions: she is forced to do prison labor for up to 50 hours per week and has been separated from her loved ones for more than two years thus far — all this just for making her art.
As of today Sveta has served
On this website you can learn more about the injustice and outrageousness of Sveta’s case, even by Russian legal standards. This site was created to help you share Sveta’s story, support her work and become part of the #freesveta movement. Here you will find the schedule of public readings of Sveta’s plays, which have been translated into 13 languages so far. You can also stay informed about her legal case and discover more about Sveta as a person beyond the headlines.
What can I do?Eurodram 2025 Selections
The French translation of Finist the Bright Falcon by Antoine Nicolle and Alexis Vadrot has been shortlisted for the Eurodram competition — the European network for drama in translation.
Tuesday is a Short Day
Vene Teater / Russian with Estonian subtitles
Tuesday is a Short Day
Vene Teater / Russian with Estonian subtitles
2025, Svetlana Petriychuk
Website editorial:
- Ekaterina Mezenceva
Irina Lobanovskaya
Design and Development:
- Artem Arsenian