Russian investigators seek arrest of ex-Satire Theatre director Aghayev

 Russian investigators plan to request the arrest of Mamadali Aghayev, former director of Moscow’s Academic Satire Theatre, who was detained on charges of embezzling 20 million roubles, TASS reported.

Investigators allege that Aghayev, who led the theatre from 1992 to 2021, registered as an individual entrepreneur and signed fake copyright contracts with the institution. He allegedly claimed to have authored several play scripts and, based on false reports, received 4% of box office revenue from performances.

Authorities have frozen his relatives’ bank accounts. His lawyer, Sergei Chersky, said the former director could face up to 10 years in prison.

Born in Nakhchivan in 1952, Aghayev was awarded the titles of Honoured Cultural Worker and Honoured Artist of Russia and was long regarded as a prominent theatre administrator.