Russia extends house arrest of acclaimed film director

MOSCOW -- An acclaimed Russian filmmaker and theatre director accused of embezzlement must stay under house arrest for another month.

A Moscow court on Wednesday ruled to extend the detention of Kirill Serebrennikov until Aug. 22.

He has been under house arrest since August 2017, and is awaiting trial on charges of embezzling 133 million rubles (about $2 million) of state funding for a theatre project.

He reiterated his denial of wrongdoing in Wednesday's hearing. A trial is expected after Sept. 1.

His film "Leto" (Summer) was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this year, despite his absence.

Many in Russia see the charges as punishment for Serebrennikov's anti-establishment views, and some fear they signal a return to Soviet-style censorship.

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