5°c A few clouds
17°c Sunny
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
German doctors hopeful Bolshoi's ballet chief will recover enough eyesight to work again
Artistic director of the Bolshoi's ballet Sergei Filin talks to the media during a press conference at the university hospital in Aachen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. Filin gets medical treatment in Germany, especially on his eyes, after an acid attack in January in Moscow. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
AACHEN, Germany - The Bolshoi ballet artistic director badly burned in an acid attack said Friday he is "full of strength and faith" that he will eventually see well enough to return to work at the famed Moscow theatre.
Sergei Filin, a black scarf and knitted hat covering his burns, spoke at a news conference at a German hospital, where doctors said one of his badly damaged eyes had shown some improvement and that they remained hopeful he would recover useful vision.
"I am full of strength and faith that I will recover what has been unjustly taken from me," Filin said as he thanked doctors in Germany for their help treating his eyes and burned skin. He said he was not afraid of returning to the theatre despite reports of murky rivalries at the ballet that might have been behind the attack.
He said he was in daily contact with his deputy at the theatre by telephone and had no fear about going back to work. "As soon as I can see ... I will go back and do the same work. ... I am not afraid."
Dressed head to toe in black and wearing large dark glasses, Filin walked into the auditorium at the University Hospital Aachen with an interpreter close at his side, and sat quietly as doctors discussed his treatment. He was led out by hospital staff afterward.
Dr. Martin Hermel, an eye specialist at the Aachen University Clinic, said that Filin suffered damage to the surface and inner parts of both eyes and had undergone several surgeries. He cautioned that Filin faces "complex and long-term treatment" that could take months rather than weeks.
Hermel said that he held out hope that Filin would "recover useable vision" to allow him to return to his professional duties.
His left eye had shown some improvement, Hermel said. As for the right, which suffered more severe damage, "we cannot at this point make a statement about the prognosis for vision in this eye.
Filin was attacked in January by a masked man who splashed sulfuric acid onto his face, leaving him with severe burns on his eyes and skin.
Bolshoi dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko, who has been arrested on suspicion of organizing the attack, told a Moscow court that he gave his blessing for the Jan. 17 attack but never expected the perpetrator to use acid and cause such harm to Filin.
The Bolshoi Theater's general director, Anatoly Iksanov, has accused veteran principal dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze of inciting tensions in the theatre that led to the attack. Tsiskaridze, a long-time fierce critic of Iksanov who is reported to aspire to his job, has rejected the allegation.
___
Vasilyeva contributed from Moscow.
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More World
- Back to Top
- Return to World
More World
(1 of 15 articles for today)
Russian court denies Pussy Riot's Maria Alekhina parole; she goes on hunger strike
7:49 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular World
- Man shot to death in Fla. while being questioned in Boston Marathon bombing investigation
- Polish man gets quick face transplant in what doctors say was life-saving decision
- British official: Suspects in butchering of soldier had been part of previous investigations
- Brave woman tried to calm London attackers and reasoned with them before police came
- Preliminary estimate puts Oklahoma tornado damage at $2 billion; 13,000 homes damaged, ruined
- Gay teen charged for having younger girlfriend
- The pope and the devil: Francis' obsession with Satan leads to suspicion he performed exorcism
- Canseco accused of sex assault in Vegas; former slugger airs info on Twitter
- FBI: Man killed had become violent during questioning on Boston bombing
- Youths in Stockholm burn down restaurant, torch more than 30 cars in 4th night of rioting
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Search for survivors of Oklahoma tornado nearly complete, as homeowners confront devastation
- Man shot to death in Fla. while being questioned in Boston Marathon bombing investigation
- Phone cracked? Cool
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Polish man gets quick face transplant in what doctors say was life-saving decision
- Umbrella-gate stirs outrage
- US zoo looking into conception mystery after birth of anteater; no male in pen
- Remote Alaska volcano continues to erupt, with lava fountains, ash plumes
- The pope and the devil: Francis' obsession with Satan leads to suspicion he performed exorcism
- Amanda Berry, 1 of 3 women freed after held captive in Ohio home, arrives at sister's home
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Friendship with bomb suspect, complex chain of events leads to 3 being charged
- Police vow to solve shooting that wounded 19 people during Mother's Day parade in New Orleans
- Missing Pa. woman, last seen dropping off kids for school in 2002, surfaces in Fla.
- Cleveland police: Ohio captive suffered 5 miscarriages after being beaten and starved
- Jodi Arias convicted of first-degree murder, says she prefers death penalty
- Neighbours: Man in custody comforted missing girl's mom, helped search for missing US women
- Search for survivors of Oklahoma tornado nearly complete, as homeowners confront devastation
- High school baseball team lifts car to free 16-year-old girl
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of rock group The Doors, dies at 74 from cancer
- Hatchet-wielding hitchhiker who intervened in California attack arrested in NJ homicide
- Remote Alaska volcano continues to erupt, with lava fountains, ash plumes
- Argentina's 'dirty war' dictator dies
- Massive tornado roars through Oklahoma City suburb, killing at least 51
- Shady characters: Cookie Monster, Elmo accused of aggressive behaviour in Times Square
- U.S. envoy punted; Russia alleges spying
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Up to 60 people injured when car drives into Va. parade; medical emergency possible cause
- 'Coronation Street' actor William Roache charged in UK over alleged rapes in 1967
- Coroner: 5-year-old boy shoots 2-year-old sister in US with rifle he got as a gift
- Hitler ate well, his food taster recalls
- Black bear wanders into LA-area suburbia, chases swimmers from pool, strands kids in class
- Female guards, rapidly growing in numbers, at heart of U.S. prison scandal
- Phone cracked? Cool
- Bill to alter rules of succession before Kate gives birth nears completion as Lords approve
- US tourists swim for nearly 14 hours after boat sinks near St. Lucia
- IBM makes movie about a little boy - a very little boy - by pushing molecules around
- Friendship with bomb suspect, complex chain of events leads to 3 being charged
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.