Politzek, the voices that challenge the Kremlin backdrop

Politzek, the voices that challenge the Kremlin 2025 Directed by Manon Loizeau , Ekaterina Mamontova Politzek, les voix qui défient le Kremlin

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.

Country Belgium
Production Countries Belgium , France
Language English
Spoken Languages English , French , Russian
Release Date 9 September 2025
90 mins