Siberian actor who slashed his wrists on stage in protest reportedly fled Russia

Artur Shuvalov, a theater actor from Ulan-Ude, has fled Russia, reports the independent outlet OVD-Info. According to the actor, he was threatened with forced psychiatric hospitalization after slashing his wrists on stage in protest against the pro-war theater management in March.

Shuvalov, as well as other actors at the theater, had previously called for the artistic director, Sergey Levitsky, to be reinstated after he was fired for his anti-war beliefs. The regional Ministry of Culture said that Shuvalov had also refused to perform for Russian soldiers and once ripped down a flag bearing the letter Z that had been hung at the theater.