Politzek: Voices that Defy the Kremlin

In today’s Russia, speaking out against the war in Ukraine or Vladimir Putin’s regime is a criminal offense. Thousands of ordinary citizens are being arrested, tried, and imprisoned. They are called the ‘Politzek’, political prisoners. This documentary delves deep into this system of repression and gives the Politzek a voice.

Filmed clandestinely over the course of nearly a year, Politzek: Voices That Defy the Kremlin gives voice to those who, despite the fear, refuse to remain silent. Like Arseny Turbin, Russia’s youngest political prisoner. He was arrested and imprisoned at just 14 years old for criticizing President Vladimir Putin – in the classroom, on his YouTube channel and in conversations with friends. His teachers reported him to Russia’s domestic intelligence agency. Or like artist Sasha Skochilenko, who placed price tags in a grocery store with messages of protest against Putin’s war in Ukraine. She was sentenced to seven years in a penal colony.

Through the intertwined stories of several Politzek, and mothers fighting to free their children, the film sheds light on Russia’s machinery of repression. With rare footage and fragile yet defiant voices, Politzek offers a deeply human portrait of silenced resistance.