Ilya Choporov on the scandal with Bilous: Why actors remained silent and what will happen next.

According to ТСН: Actor Ilya Choporov, who performs in the play 'Cabaret', shared his thoughts on the sex scandal that erupted around the former head of the 'Young Theatre', director Andriy Bilous.

The scandal broke out in January this year when Bilous was accused of sexual harassment and rape. In the program 'Alone with Glamour', Ilya admitted that he knew about possible incidents even before their public discussion, but did not dare to speak to the director as it could have destroyed his career.

‘I had no personal conversations with him. I wouldn’t just be fired. Most likely, my life in other theaters would also be over. Not only mine but also for everyone who works with me. It's a very complicated structure. The fact that we managed to move it at least a little is already a great victory,’ shares 'Cabaret' star Anna Sevastyanova.

Ilya emphasized that he is proud of the women who dared to speak publicly and testify against Bilous in court. According to him, this is not an easy decision, and he is confident that the case should reach its logical conclusion.

‘He is not in prison yet. We are doing everything possible for this. But this is a very complicated case, which is actually unique, of which I am proud. I am proud of the courage and incredible strength of the girls who managed to speak about it, who will testify in court. Believe me, it's not easy. There are people who still cannot confess and testify, even though their testimonies were crucial. It is important to understand that this is not easy. All these questions about why you were silent, why you did not take any steps… I am happy for these people, as they do not understand how it is. We want to bring this case to the end. I am sure if we have already managed to bring it to the pre-trial detention center, we can bring it to a verdict,’ said Choporov.

The sex scandal surrounding Andriy Bilous - what is known

The scandalous accusations became known in January this year when one of his former students anonymously reported harassment by Bilous. The girl was supported by other cultural figures, and soon new testimonies began to emerge.

Employees of the 'Young Theatre' appealed to the Kyiv City State Administration with a request to dismiss the director from his position. Initially, he was suspended, but later he returned to work. After significant public discontent, Bilous ultimately resigned.

Meanwhile, the police launched a criminal proceeding. On October 22, a preventive measure was chosen for Bilous: he will remain in custody until December 17. He has been charged with several articles of the Criminal Code, to which the director responds with denial, claiming that the relationships were consensual.

This scandal has become an important moment in the discussion about sexual harassment in Ukraine's cultural environment. The public support for women who dared to speak about their experiences indicates a growing willingness of society to combat such violence. Justice in this case has not yet been achieved, but the process has already begun, and it may influence future approaches to protecting the rights of victims.