Play acting, for keeps in Russia

The reviews are in, and the critics have seen this one before;

Acclaimed theater actor and opposition activist Alexei Devotchenko has been found dead in a pool of blood at his apartment in northeastern Moscow, news reports said.

Devotchenko, 49, was discovered with slashes on his body, unnamed polices sources were cited as saying by news agency LifeNews, which has strong links to the Russian security services.

The actor had been outspoken in his criticism of Russia's actions in Ukraine, and belonged to former world chess champion Gary Kasparov's political group United Civil Front. Though he had also been attacked physically by Russian homophobes, for his unmanly ear piercing.