Marissa

He's amazing. The Bolshoi would be foolish not to renew his contract IMO. It's so great to see him so strong but I was saddened by that glimpse of his eyes without his glasses. His right eye is opaque and obviously sightless. Made me angry when I think of all of those people who've accused him of faking his blindness. I'm just thankful he can see well enough out of his left eye to continue to do his job and enjoy life.

Okay - thanks. I've had this thread specifically bookmarked to check for news on the case so I had just clicked on it and didn't see the new thread.

The verdict is in - Dmitrichenko, Zarutsky and the driver Lipatov have all been found guilty. Dmitrichenko has been sentenced to six years, Zarutsky to ten years and Lipatov to four years. http://www.ismeneb.com/Blog/Entries/2013/12/3_Guilty%2C_guilty%2C_guilty%2C_says_judge.html Sergei Filin has been sentenced to a lifetime of severely impaired eyesight and physical and emotional scars.

The verdict in the acid trial is to be announced next Tuesday so hopefully that means they can finally put that scandal behind them.

I wouldn't be so quick to believe those allegations against Filin. None of them have been substantiated and they've been made by people with an agenda and an axe to grind.

I would say that the solution to avoiding tension would be not to have Tsiskaridze return, but I suspect that if Medinksy wants him back at the Bolshoi then he'll be back.

I don't think Filin will have any choice but to accept Tsiskaridze if he comes back, although I don't see how he could be expected to work with him. I'd like to see Tsiskaridze look into Filin's damaged eyes and tell him to his face that he's been faking his injuries. With all the changes that are happening it doesn't sound like it's going to be a good working situation for Filin at the Bolshoi - assuming he is able to return to work full time. I'd like to see him work for a theater that shares and supports his artistic vision and where he can do his job without needing a bodyguard for protection.

Wonderful news! It should be a great morale booster not just for Filin but for the dancers as well.

Thanks for posting the link, Farfallina. I'm glad that there at least still seems to be some hope for improvement in Sergei's left eye. But it doesn't sound encouraging for him regaining any vision in his right eye.

I saw this news posted on another forum - Iksanov has been fired. No reason given. I wonder if this means Tsiskaridze will get his job back. And what will it mean for Filin?

Thanks Clarissa. Where did you find out about the complication from the blood vessels invading a tissue implant?

Is there something that can be done to halt the progressive effects of the acid? It's been six months since the attack so I would have thought that the acid would have done all the damage it was going to do by now, especially with all the treatment Sergei's been receiving. The fact that his doctors had in the beginning been so optimistic about his recovery and had promised him they could save his left eye, makes this latest update on his condition all the more discouraging and heartbreaking. Clarissa, I really hope you're right about contemporary medicine being able to restore Sergei's vision. As for the Bolshoi replacing him with a new artistic director, surely they wouldn't do that as long as there's a chance he can recover enough to return?

I sure hope so, Clarissa. Even if they can only restore vision in his left eye at least he would be able to see.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/stage/dance/article3795397.ece I don't have a subscription so I was only able to read the first paragraph but this is certainly very depressing and upsetting news. And it makes me even more angry when I read about Tsiskaridze and Dmitrichenko and his supporters claiming that Filin is faking or exaggerating his injuries. The thought of him spending the rest of his life blind just makes me sick.

Thanks again, Clarissa. Looking at those photos of Sergei's burned face, I can't believe that anyone could question the severity of his injuries.