Acclaimed Russian director convicted but not sent to prison A Moscow judge has convicted an acclaimed Russian theater director of embezzling state funds and imposed a three-year suspended sentence in a case widely seen as politically motivatedMOSCOW -- A Moscow judge convicted an acclaimed Russian theater director of embezzling state funds and imposed a three-year suspended sentence Friday in a case widely seen as politically motivated. The judge, saying that “reformation is possible without a real (prison) term," gave Serebrennikov and two other defendants suspended sentences, fines and ordered them to repay the embezzled funds. Prosecutors had requested a 6-year prison term for Serebrennikov. The director spent almost two years under house arrest between August 2017 and April 2019. A crowd of Serebrennikov's supporters gathered in front of the courthouse Friday and greeted the director with applause when he came out.

Source: ABC News June 26, 2020 14:57 UTC