A Moscow court has sentenced Alexander Rodnyansky, an Oscar-nominated film producer, to eight-and-a-half years in prison in absentia for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian military. The 63-year-old Rodnyansky, originally from Kyiv, has spent much of his career in Russia, where he produced numerous television series and films, including the critically acclaimed crime drama Leviathan.
Rodnyansky has been a vocal critic of the Kremlin's actions since Russia's military intervention in Ukraine began in February 2022. Following the invasion, he repeatedly condemned the offensive on social media. Fearing retribution for his outspoken views, he left Russia shortly after receiving a warning that he was in danger of being targeted by the government.
In a significant turn, the Russian Ministry of Justice labeled him a “foreign agent” and a Moscow court subsequently ordered his arrest in absentia in 2023. The Basmanny Court of Moscow found Rodnyansky guilty of disseminating “knowingly false information” regarding the Russian armed forces.
In response to the verdict, Rodnyansky expressed his discontent, stating that the case was tied to his “anti-war posts on Instagram.” He firmly stated, “No Basmanny court can stop me from speaking loudly and doing what I have been doing all my life, making films,” in a post shared on Telegram.
In a previous article for the Guardian, he declared his intention to continue opposing the invasion, stating, “No other country in the world recognizes this crime and I don’t either. I will continue to speak out against the invasion on every platform available to me.”
Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, the Russian government has detained, fined, and imprisoned thousands of individuals for voicing opposition to its military actions, a crackdown that has drawn comparisons to practices from the Soviet era.
Rodnyansky began his career in Ukraine, where he established the nation’s first independent television network in 1995. However, he is primarily known for his film production work in Russia, having produced over 30 films. Four of his films have received Oscar nominations in the Best Foreign Film category: Chief in Love, Est-Ouest, Leviathan, and Loveless.
Leviathan, which explores one man's struggle against corruption in Russia after being evicted from his ancestral land, won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film in 2015. Loveless, a poignant tale about a couple forced to cooperate after their child goes missing, earned the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
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