Acid attack row: Bolshoi fires lead dancer Ousted: Bolshoi principal dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze, whose sacking was announced by the celebrated Russian theatre on Saturday. Photo: AP/Misha Japaridze The principal ballet dancer at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow has been told to leave by the end of the month amid allegations that he was implicated in a feud in which the artistic director was almost blinded in an acid attack. Nikolai Tsiskaridze, 39, is the latest casualty of infighting in the world's leading ballet company. Tsiskaridze has repeatedly denied allegations he was tied to the attack on Sergei Filin, who suffered severe burns to his face and eyes in the late-night assault. On Sunday he said a whispering campaign had cost him his job. This is hounding of the sole and most famous artist of the Bolshoi Theatre. The injuries to Filin and public arguments between leading figures has prompted followers of the ballet to criticise the "rivalry over roles" that dominates the institution. Alexei Ratmansky, a former artistic director, condemned a "disgusting claque" of artists, ticket speculators, and half-crazed fans who have brought a great theatre to its knees. Pavel Dmitrichenko, a Tsiskaridze protege at the Bolshoi, and two alleged accomplices were charged over the attack and are in jail awaiting trial. They face up to 12 years in prison if convicted. Filin has been receiving medical treatment in Germany. Katerina Novikova, a Bolshoi spokesman, confirmed Tsiskaridze had been told his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of June. She refused to give the reason. Tsiskaridze was at odds with the Bolshoi's director, Anatoly Iksanov, even before the January 17 attack. Iksanov suggested Tsiskaridze played a role inciting the attack, prompting the Georgian-born dancer to accuse the manager of a witch-hunt. The director said he saw the attack on Filin as "a logical result of the excesses created above all by ... Tsiskaridze. The Bolshoi filed two reprimands against Tsiskaridze for giving unauthorised interviews after the attack on Filin. Tsiskaridze appealed and a court annulled one of the reprimands. Multiple reprimands can be ground for dismissal under Russian law. Russian media has claimed the attack was linked to disagreements between Filin and Dmitrichenko's girlfriend Anzhelina Vorontosva, a student of Tsiskaridze. Filin allegedly turned down the young ballerina for the role of Odette in Swan Lake.