Breaking news: Mikhail Pletnev cleared of sex charges

Breaking news: Mikhail Pletnev cleared of sex charges

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norman lebrecht

December 03, 2010

The authorities in Thailand have dropped all proceedings against the Russian conductor and pianist, Mikhail Pletnev, who had been accused of procuring under-age boys for sexual purposes and one instance of alleged rape. Pletnev, founder and conductor of the Russian National Orchestra denied the accusations, but was forced to cancel international engagements during the second half of this year while living on bail in his Thai home. He was never formally charged.

A short statement today from his orchestra’s PR agency (below) says the case was dropped two months ago and Pletnev resumed his public career earlier this month in Moscow, and is about to embark on a European tour with the violinist Gidon Kremer.
The case has been clouded by rumours of Russian mafia vendettas and Thai military corruption, none of which could be substantiated. Local newspapers report that the police are continuing to make arrests in a child prostitution ring allegedly uncovered by the investigation of the Pletnev case.
 
Here’s today’s press release:
Investigation into the accusations made against Mikhail Pletnev closed
without
charge by Thai authorities
The Thai authorities informed us that the investigation surrounding the
founder and music director of the Russian National Orchestra, Mr Mikhail
Pletnev, was terminated on September 28 2010 and no charges were made to the
Thai Court. Mr. Pletnev?s bail was lifted in October, and returned to him in
late November.
Mr. Pletnev has always refuted the accusations made against him. He has
been fully cooperative during Thai authorities? investigations. Under the
conditions of his bail he returned to the Thai beach resort of Pattaya (where
Mr. Pletnev has owned a property for over a decade) numerous times since early
July, to show his presence as instructed by the Pattaya District
Court.
Russian National Orchestra celebrates its 20th anniversary
On November 5th 2010
the Russian National Orchestra celebrated its 20
th anniversary with a gala
concert in Moscow, conducted by Kent Nagano and Mikhail Pletnev. This December
the RNO embarks on a large tour of Europe under the baton of Mikhail Pletnev,
and with soloist Gidon Kremer. The tour will take the orchestra to Budapest,
Baden-Baden, Paris, Essen, K?ln, Brussels and other European
cities.
The RNO is renowned for its work with today?s leading conductors and
soloists and is recognised as being amongst the world?s top orchestras. About
half of the orchestra?s annual concerts are performed by accomplished conductors
such as Kent Nagano, Ingo Metzmacher, Charles Dutoit, Semyon Bychkov,
Vladimir Jurowski, Vasily Petrenko or Vassily Sinaisky. For further information
please visit the RNO?s official website (www.rno.ru).

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