Politzek, the voices that challenge the Kremlin
Politzek, the voices that challenge the Kremlin

Storyline

In Russia, criticizing the war in Ukraine or Vladimir Putin’s regime has become a crime. Thousands of ordinary citizens are being arrested, tried, and imprisoned. They are called “Politzek”: political prisoners. Filmed clandestinely over the course of more than a year, Politzek gives a platform to those who, despite the fear, continue to speak out against Putin’s repressive Russia. Through the intersecting stories of a teenager sentenced to five years in prison for criticizing the government on social media, a young artist jailed for placing anti-war stickers, a human rights activist, and two theater directors facing Kafkaesque trials, the film unveils the machinery of state repression in Russia. With rare footage, broken yet unyielding voices, this is a story of silenced resistance.
  • Original Title
    Politzek, les voix qui défient le Kremlin
  • Released
    September 9, 2025
  • Runtime
    1h 30min
  • Director
  • Genre
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    French
  • Production
    Clin d'oeil Films, Wildbird Films, Shelter Prod, France Télévisions, DW, RTBF, VRT, SWR, BABEL Doc, Mediawan Rights