Today, Tver District Court of Moscow rejected the claim for 2 million rubles compensation by Maria Babalova, music critic and columnist at metropolitan Moscow newspaper against The State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia. The interests of the Bolshoi Theater were represented by the advocates of EPAM.

In her statement of the claim Maria Babalova indicated that on October 2, 2011 she visited The State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia as a spectator to see a rehearsal performance arranged for that day. However, before the performance started the announcement was made that the show was closed to the press and would not begin until Ms Babalova left the room. The claimant refused to do so, and as a result, she was forced to leave the hall. In her lawsuit Ms Babalova asked the court to recover compensation for moral damages from the Bolshoi Theater at the rate of 2 million rubles, and oblige the defendant to make an official apology by posting this apology on the official website.

On June 13, 2012 the court decided to deny the claim in full. "Our position was based on the fact that the rehearsal performance was closed, and the invitations were delivered to the individuals concerned at their address. Moreover, since the entrance by invitation was free, the Bolshoi Theater did not take an obligation to allow any bearer of the invitation to the performance, using its reasonable right to restrict access, in particular, the presence of theater critics at the rehearsal,"says Alina Kudryavtseva, a Senior Associate at EPAM, representing the interests of the client in court. - "This case is unusual for the court practice in Russia. We are pleased we were able to justify the right to hold closed-door theater rehearsals among the audience they are aimed at."