A theatrical work on Andrei Chikatilo entitled "The...

A theatrical work on Andrei Chikatilo entitled "The Monster Of Rostov- I did it for love" was launched at the Radio Rai head office. The Rai Social Secretariat and the Associazione Nazionale Italiana Cantanti backed the realization of the play, whilst proceeds were to go to the anti-death penalty NGO Hands Off Cain.
"The aim of this show is to say no to the death penalty, to say no to all those punishments that brand the convict with infamy, that obliterate the person," said HOC Secretary Sergio D'Elia.
"This play makes us think about the dual dimension of punishment: the jail term that a convict must serve, and the punishment that is not applied by courts, but by fellow inmates and prison guards, according to a 'code of honour': the pain of infamy."
"The Monster Of Rostov" was inspired by the story of Andrei Chikatilo, executed in Ukraine in 1994. He was convicted of killing 53 people, mainly women, children and adolescents. He cannibalised the bodies of his victims. Before his conviction and subsequent execution, an innocent person was put to death for some of his crimes.
Andrei's son, Yuri, in an attempt to emulate and vindicate his father, also practiced cannibalism and after his conviction was lynched by fellow inmates in a Russian prison.
Present at the launch of the theatrical work were Ugo De Vita, author, director and actor; the actresses Barbara Cupisti and Marianna Morandin; Gianluca Pecchini, General Manager of the Nazionale Italiana Cantanti; Carlo Romeo, of the RAI Social Secretariat and Angiolino Lonardi, Deputy General Director of Radio RAI.