The director of the Bolshoi ballet has resigned after erotic photographs purporting to be of him were posted on the internet and circulated via a weblink to thousands of email addresses.
Gennady Yanin, a soloist who has led the troupe since 2005, was quoted as saying that he had long been considering his future and took the opportunity presented by the scandal to stand down.
It was reported that the alleged photographs of Yanin were posted to a website that has since disappeared. Russian media have speculated that colleagues conspired against Yanin to force him aside.
The Bolshoi has named experienced soloist Yan Godovsky as Yanin's replacement. Godovsky is in his 18th season with the Bolshoi.
PA