Some employees of the Riga Russian Theater named after Mikhail Chekhov, after the dismissal of artistic director Sergey Golomazov, distributed an anonymous statement expressing dissatisfaction with the management of the institution led by Dana Bjork.
A publicly distributed statement expresses suspicions of a possible conflict of interest involving theater director Dana Bjork, as she simultaneously performs administrative functions, influences the formation of the repertoire and the allocation of actors' schedules, and also plays roles in productions.
The statement notes that the decision to speak out about the situation in the theater is related to the dismissal of Golomazov. Although the employees do not disclose details, they suggest that he was fired due to prolonged professional disagreements with theater director Dana Bjork.
"In public comments, the management creates the impression that dissatisfaction with the current situation is expressed by a limited number of employees," the statement says. It emphasizes that by signing the letter, 40 theater workers expressed their support for the artistic director.
According to the employees, with Golomazov's departure, there is no longer anyone in the theater who "can ensure an independent artistic balance in the management system." They also note that attempts to involve an independent lawyer or a representative from the Federation of Trade Unions in joint discussions with the management have not been realized in practice.
Director Golomazov previously stated that the sole reason for his dismissal was a professional and ethical conflict with the theater director, and he does not rule out the possibility of going to court.
