He also accused Tsiskaridze of helping to bring down former ballet director Gennady Yanin in 2011.

BBC: Nikolai Tsiskaridze in a file image from March 2001

Russian media have speculated that Yanin may have been the victim of a smear campaign.

BBC: Bolshoi director resigns after erotic photos published

Gennady Yanin stepped down after a link to the website was circulated to thousands of e-mail addresses, the daily Izvestia reported.

BBC: Bolshoi director resigns after erotic photos published

Yanin has been replaced by long-standing soloist Yan Godovsky.

BBC: Bolshoi director resigns after erotic photos published

The Bolshoi ballet confirmed the staffing changes, saying "The theatre's general director Anatoly Iksanov appointed Yan Godovsky to the position of the ballet troupe director yesterday, after Yanin filed for voluntary leave".

BBC: Bolshoi director resigns after erotic photos published

However, news agency Interfax has cited Yanin, who has led the troupe since 2005, as saying he had long been considering his future and took the opportunity presented by the scandal to step down.

BBC: Bolshoi director resigns after erotic photos published