Bolshoi spokeswoman Katerina Novikova told the AP that Filin had been informed about Dmitrichenko’s detention, but said the theater would not comment until after the trial.
Dmitrichenko, who comes from a family of dancers and joined the Bolshoi in 2002, has danced several major parts in recent years, including the villain in “Swan Lake.” Novikova said on Tuesday that management was unaware of any conflict between him and Filin. However, Channel One state television reported that Dmitrichenko’s girlfriend, Anzhelina Vorontsova, also a Bolshoi soloist, was known to have been at odds with Filin.
Dmitrichenko remained in police custody pending a court hearing on Thursday in which prosecutors will move for formal charges against the three men, and it was unclear whether they had lawyers.
The Bolshoi Theater is one of Russia’s premier cultural institutions, best known for “Swan Lake” and the other grand classical ballets that grace its stage. Backstage, the ballet company has been troubled by deep intrigue and infighting that have led to the departure of several artistic directors over recent years.
Filin’s colleagues have said the attack could be in retaliation for his selection of certain dancers over others for prized roles. Filin told state television before he checked out of a Moscow hospital in January that he knew who ordered the attack but would not name the person.
Zarutsky was detained on Tuesday in the Tver region north of Moscow, police said. Police had also detained and questioned another suspected accomplice, identified as Andrei Lipatov, who is believed to have driven Zarutsky to the scene of the crime.
Kondratyeva admitted that his girlfriend Vorontsova had not been given leading parts lately but for a good reason: “How could Filin ‘elbow her out’? Tsiskaridze is mentoring and coaching her — but she was just plain fat.”
Vorontsova danced for Filin when he worked at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater, Moscow’s second ballet company. Russian newspapers said that Filin expected Vorontsova to stay at the theater when she finished doing her apprenticeship but she went to Bolshoi instead — before Filin was hired to work there.
Russian newspapers quoted unidentified ballet dancers saying that Dmitrichenko had a fiery temper.
In a rare public outburst, Dmitrichenko posted an angry comment in November responding to a newspaper review which said his “artistic scope is limited not to mention his physical potential.”
Dmitrichenko on the website of the Kommersant daily accused the journalist of bias, calling the writer “a failed performer.” Kommersant later took down his comment. One of the screenshots of the detailed remarks read:
“I’m happy, I’m accomplished, I work with the genius of a teacher, I work with Genius, Grigorovich himself!!! What about you??”
Dmitrichenko was due to appear at the Bolshoi in “Sleeping Beauty” on March 16 where he played Bluebird.
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Sasha Merkushev and Yelena Yegorova contributed to this report.
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