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.

Thanks Clarissa. I've been wondering when they were going to do the eye tissue transplantation. I'm glad that it's been done and I hope and pray that is was successful and that his vision will be restored.

Thank you Clarissa. I saw that article and was very curious about what was in it. It is a huge relief to hear that his blindness is only temporary and that he at least has some vision in his left eye.

I'm shocked at the photos too but amazed at how well the treatments have worked. I hope a similar miracle can be performed on Sergei's eyes so his vision can be saved along with his face.

Clarissa, I didn't know that his blindness is progressive. Thanks for clearing that up. I hope you're right about the possibility that Tatiana Stukalova's words weren't quoted accurately and that there is still a chance that Sergei's vision can be restored.

I'd like to know what went wrong. When he was still in Moscow his wife said he was able to read the first four lines of the eye chart. And now he's completely blind? The thought of him not only never being able to do his job again but also never being able to see the faces of his wife and sons again makes me sick. I hope SF's doctors will make some kind of statement about what's going on with his health. They had said they had high hopes for this transplant surgery. I wonder if they still do.

Well, this news is very discouraging and disheartening. http://www.france24.com/en/20130418-bolshoi-acid-attack-victim-still-cannot-see I'm really confused. All the reports have consistently said that SF still retained some sight in his left eye and just last month his doctors were expressing optimism about him regaining enough vision to lead a normal life. So I really don't understand what's going on.

In the US if a suspect has been charged with a serious crime and is considered a flight risk, they can be denied bail even if they have no previous offenses. And we now know why there has been no news on the outcome of SF's transplant surgery yet. Thanks to everyone who has provided updates. Nice to have some "new" news for a change.

Thanks Farfallina! I appreciate you taking the time to do that. It sounds like his eyesight is still really bad. I hope his doctors are right about him eventually regaining enough sight to lead a normal life.

I didn't know about the copyright issues either. I don't want anyone getting into trouble! So Farfallina, could you just provide a brief summary of what the author had to say about SF's outer and inner state when you have the chance? Thanks. I did manage to find some news. The legal proceedings have been postponed until June 18th and all three suspects will remain in custody until then.

Thanks for the links Farfallina. If you could translate some of the German article that would be much appreciated. Google translations leave a lot to be desired. That mention of Sergei not being able to see well enough to find his tea mug certainly doesn't sound encouraging. This complete news shutdown is frustrating. I want to know how he's doing.