Marissa

Farfallina, do you remember the date of the article where it was described Sergei had trouble finding his tea mug?

Maybe the surgery hasn't been done yet, or his doctors aren't reporting the results out of respect for his privacy. I just hope that if or when it's done, it's a success and at least some sight can be restored to his right eye.

Since the article said that the preparatory surgery was to be done last week I was hoping there would be some news on whether it was successful or not. But I haven't been able to find anything.

Clarissa, I've been wondering about that claim that Filin supposedly has made about Tsiskaridze trying to blackmail him. It's been all over the Russian press yet there have been no direct quotes from Sergei himself and no mention in any of the official police reports. Maybe these "unknown sources" are just trying to muddy the waters and cause even more controversy. I hope and pray that the transplant surgeries go well and will restore vision to Sergei's right eye.

Here's a link to an article that's in English about Tsiskaridze's lawsuit against the Bolshoi: http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20130329/266868998.html

"Well, I apologize, if N.Tsiskaridze had never said those words about acid neither on NTV, no to BBC, and all these his statements were just fruits of my imagination." If they're the fruits of your imagination then they must be of mine as well. Tsiskaridze has been saying in numerous interviews in print and on television that he doesn't believe that Filin was attacked with acid. He's even called himself the real victim of this case because he believes it was all staged as part of a witch hunt against him. I'm sure the scarred and nearly blind Sergei Filin, who's just undergone the 13th surgery on his eyes, would gladly trade places with him.

"So it was your mutual dislike of Tsiskaridze that led you both to post here?" I can't speak for Clarissa, but no, that's not what led me to post here. It's my dislike and anger over the attack on Sergei Filin that's led me to post here. Before the attack I didn't have an opinion one way or the other on Tsiskaridze. But his behavior and comments since the attack have created an unfavorable impression of him for me. Like I said before, I've formed my opinion of him based on his own words and actions, not from what others think of him.

I had no problem opening the links Clarissa posted. And I've personally formed an opinion of Tsiskaridze based on his own words, not gossip.

Thanks for the links, Clarissa. With so much personal animosity between them I wonder how Filin and Tsiskaridze will be able to continue to work together at the same theater when Filin does (hopefully) return? It sounds like he will be returning to the same poisonous atmosphere that was there when he was attacked. Personally I fear for his safety. If there really is some kind of "puppet master" behind the attack, if this person is that determined to get rid of Filin, then I fear that he will try to finish the job.

I say "it looks" and "it seems" because that's how it looks to me. Tsiskaridze is given this soapbox in the media to freely accuse and criticize Filin. He accuses him of corruption and even of faking his attack. He claims that "everybody" in the troupe is questioning the seriousness of Filin's injuries. I guess he believes all the doctors in Moscow and Germany are in on this "hoax" as well. Tsiskaridze conveniently forgets to mention that it was the police who identified the substance in the jar as sulphuric acid and that it was the hitman (sorry can't remember how to spell his name) who admitted to buying the acid and throwing it in Filin's face. There are people sympathizing with Dmitrichenko and calling his arrest an injustice. But what about the injustice done to Sergei Filin? He's been accused of being corrupt without being given the chance to respond and defend himself. Instead he's attacked with acid and then attacked in the press while trying to recover. I would think the fact that his main accuser is the man who's been openly campaigning for his job would arouse at least some skepticism of the veracity of these accusations. If there is suspicion of corruption at the Bolshoi let there be a formal investigation instead of these endless attacks in the press.

It looks like Tsiskaridze is doing his best to spread misinformation and create a negative image of Sergei Filin in the media. Why does he hate him so much? It seems to go way beyond creative differences and him covetting Filin's position as art director.

Sorry - didn't see it in the Links section. I'm new here and still finding my way around the forum. I agree that it's a very well-written article. But it left me feeling very sad and worried for Sergei Filin. And also angry. I hope the police will continue investigating this case until they find everyone involved.

A link to an article in the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/03/18/130318fa_fact_remnick

It was Dmitrichenko's girlfriend who was said to be feuding with Sergei over being passed over for roles. She felt that she was being treated unfairly. That's what made me wonder if he committed the attack for her. It doesn't necessarily mean that she knew of it or was involved in any way. But both Dmitrichenko and his girlfriend are said to be Tsiskaridze supporters so it doesn't come as a surprise to me that the attack on Sergei would come from one of the factions within the Bolshoi that have been dissatisfied and openly critical of the way the company is being run.

I wonder whether the journalists and TV commentators who went beyond impartial reporting and were pointing fingers at a prominent dancer (making such good sales and ratings for their ‘production’) will apologise to him now. However hard it was for Tsiskaridze, hopefully, he is strong enough to withstand the heavy-handed attacks by some journalists. I wonder if Tsiskaridze will apologize to the Bolshoi Management for accusing them of staging the acid attack in order to start a witch hunt against him and to Sergei Filin and his family for accusing them of exploiting the attack for publicity purposes.

I read in one news story that it was Dmitrichenko's girlfriend who had argued with Sergei and that she was a pupil of Tsiskaridze. That makes me wonder if she was involved or if he committed the attack for her. That's assuming he's guilty of course. It's hard to believe that someone could do something as vicious as throwing acid in someone's face over creative or personal differences.

I don't see anything odd about the story. As someone has mentioned before, I think the reason Sergei managed to escape disfigurement is because he was able to dilute the effects of the acid with snow. His face was bandaged in the beginning because he did sustain burns of some degree on his face. The press reported that he might go blind because that's exactly what the doctors feared when they first started treating him. Fortunately it now sounds hopeful after all the surgeries he's had that he will at least retain some sight. But his eyes will probably never be the same and from what I've read he still faces more surgeries and months of recovery. I hope they catch the person who committed this despicable and brutal act.