(Politzek: The Voices That Defy the Kremlin)
What is the price of political activism in Russia? Putin’s regime labels any criticism of the state a terrorist act and sentences thousands to many years in prison.
The Russian term “politzek” refers to political prisoners, whose numbers have skyrocketed in the country, especially since the start of the war in Ukraine. Activist and chairman of the Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre, Oleg Orlov, as well as fourteen-year-old Arseniy, who was sentenced to five years in prison for criticising Putin on social media, are two such prisoners. This secretly filmed documentary examines the individual “terrorist” acts of protesters that led to their harsh convictions. At the same time, it shows that there are still many people in Russia who are willing to risk their personal freedom to highlight systemic injustice and human rights violations.
| Title | Politzek: The Voices That Defy the Kremlin |
|---|---|
| Original Language | French, Russian |
| Subtitles | Czech, English |
| Premiéra | Czech premiere |
| Film type | Full-length documentary |
| Year of Production | 2025 |
| Country of Origin | Belgium, France |
| Length | 90 min. |
| Tags | Dictatorships, Justice |
| Director | Manon Loizeau, Ekaterina Mamontova |
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Světozor Cinema – Large Hall
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