Oscar-Nominated Producer Alexander Rodnyansky Receives 8.5-Year Prison Sentence in Moscow Court for Anti-War Statements

As a fervent supporter of artistic freedom and truth-telling, I wholeheartedly stand with Alexander Rodnyansky. His life story is a testament to the power of art, resilience, and courage. From his humble beginnings in Kyiv to becoming one of Russia’s most influential producers, he has consistently used his platform to shed light on important issues.


On Monday, Alexander Rodnyansky, twice nominated for an Academy Award (“Leviathan,” “Loveless”), was handed an 8.5-year prison sentence by a Moscow court in his absence. The producer claims that the Russian authorities are trying to intimidate critics of Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine by issuing this sentence.

In a statement given to EbMaster, Rodnyansky stated, “Many talented Russian authors and musicians have previously faced sentences aimed at muzzling those who voice opposition to war.

In response to remarks he made criticizing the war, a court in Moscow’s Basmanny District decided on Monday afternoon to imprison Rodnyansky for a period of 8.5 years. Furthermore, this sentence includes a prohibition on Rodnyansky from using the internet for a span of four consecutive years.

The court declared him responsible for spreading false military information, which is how Russian authorities label any statements conflicting with their version of events regarding the conflict in Ukraine. They also concluded that his actions stemmed from political animosity, as reported by the Russian news outlet Mediazona.

In my perspective, Rodnyansky assertively declared that the charges against him were politically motivated. He also disclosed that he was penalized for openly discussing the gruesome actions committed by the Russian military in Bucha.

As a devoted cinephile, I find it alarming that the recent ruling by the Moscow court seems intentionally designed to strike terror within our film fraternity. This chilling measure appears to be aimed at silencing us, stifling any public criticisms we might voice regarding the unjust conflict in Ukraine or, more personally, against President Vladimir Putin.

He pointed out that the Kremlin’s suppression of opposition to the war has affected “many” Russian artists and a vast number of regular citizens. However, he clarified, his situation is distinct: “I’m not Russian; I’m Ukrainian.

Born in Kyiv, the producer has been residing and working in Russia for almost three decades. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he has publicly criticized the war. After receiving information suggesting his criticism put him at risk, Rodnyansky successfully left the country. In October 2022, the Russian Ministry of Justice labeled him as a foreign agent.

Following a successful start in media, primarily directing documentaries and establishing Ukraine’s initial independent television network in Kyiv, Rodnyansky subsequently rose to prominence as one of the key figures in Russian film production. His partnerships with filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev earned him Academy Award nominations in the foreign-language (now international feature) category for “Leviathan” and “Loveless.

A few years back, before the Russian army invaded my homeland Ukraine, I resided and worked in Moscow,” Rodnyanksy stated. “My films garnered recognition at Cannes, twice earning nominations for an Academy Award on behalf of Russia, and once a movie I produced (‘Leviathan’) took home a Golden Globe. However, times have drastically shifted since then, and today I find myself facing sentencing for voicing my opposition to the brutal conflict in a blatantly political trial.

Ever since the early days of conflict, when the Russian Federation’s Minister of Defense ordered a ban on all my work within Russia due to my stance against war, I was aware that such a position would incur retaliation. However, this didn’t deter me from openly backing Ukraine and voicing opposition to the war, and it certainly won’t silence me now.

Rodnyansky stated that he does not acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Russian judicial system nor his imprisonment verdict. He further declared his intention to persist in expressing the truth about the ruthless nature of the Russian invasion, whether it be through media outlets or film productions.

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2024-10-21 16:46