Politzek, the voices that challenge the Kremlin
7.4
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.
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Manon Loizeau Director · Ekaterina Mamontova Director Sacha Koulaeva Writer
First release September 9, 2025 · Produced in Belgium, France, Germany · Languages English, French, Russian
Production
Clin d'oeil Films
Production
Wildbird Films
Production
Shelter Prod
Production
France Télévisions
Production
DW
Production
RTBF
Production
VRT
Production
SWR
Production
BABEL Doc
Production
Mediawan Rights
Production
Belgium · France · Germany
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Politzek, les voix qui défient le Kremlin
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
English · French · Russian
Release dates
Belgium · September 9, 2025
Digital · Auvio (RTBF)
No release date listed for United States.
Belgium
September 18, 2025 · TV · La 1ère (RTBF)
France
September 21, 2025 · TV · France•5
September 22, 2025 · Digital · France•tv
May 19, 2026 · TV · LCP - Public Sénat
Latvia
March 7, 2026 · Premiere · Artdocfest/Riga
Sweden
February 15, 2026 · Digital · svtplay: https://www.svtplay.se/video/Kv14R5N/putins-fangar
Switzerland
September 24, 2025 · Digital · Play RTS
September 24, 2025 · TV · RTS Un
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