Dear Sir or Madam,  

DW (Deutsche Welle) cordially invites you to the premiere of the documentary film "Politzek – Voices that Defy the Kremlin", directed by Manon Loizeau and Ekaterina Mamontova, co-written by Sacha Koulaeva.  

Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025, 19:00 (doors open at 18:30)  
Location: Delphi Filmpalast, Kantstraße 12a, 10623 Berlin, Charlottenburg 

Following the film premiere the filmmakers Manon Loizeau (director), Ekaterina Mamontova and Sacha Koulaeva (author), as well as Oleg Orlov (Memorial) and Dmitry Muratov (Novaya Gazeta) will discuss the Russian apparatus of oppression. Moderator: Olga Tikhomirova (DW) 

In Russia, criticizing President Vladimir Putin has become a criminal offense. Thousands have been imprisoned. Such political prisoners are called Politzek. This documentary delves deep into this system of repression and gives these prisoners a voice. 

Arseny Turbin was arrested in 2023 and sentenced to five years. His crime, at just 14 years old? Criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin — in the classroom, on his YouTube channel, and in conversations with friends. Now aged 17, Arseny is Russia's youngest political prisoner. His mother, Irina, is fighting for his release — terrified he may not make it out of the penal colony alive. 

Nadezhda Skochilenko also fought for years to secure the release of her daughter, Sasha. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sasha placed messages of protest against Putin's war on price tags in a grocery store. A court in St. Petersburg sentenced her to seven years in a penal colony. After more than two years in prison, she was finally releesed in a prisoner exchange. Another released prisoner was Oleg Orlov, co-founder of the human rights organisation Memorial, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. The film also follows his wife, Tatyana, as she fights against the oppressive Russian regime. 

Politzek – Voices that Defy the Kremlin, is a co-production by Babel Doc (Stéphanie Lebrun) and Clin d'Œil Films (Hanne Phlypo), in cooperation with France TV, co-produced with Deutsche Welle and SWR, RTBF, VRT. 

The film will be available in the ARD Mediathek starting on November 29, 2025 and on DW’s channels starting December 6, 2025 in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi and Bahasa Indonesia.  

The event will be held in English and Russian.

Panel: 
  • Manon Loizeau (director)  
  • Ekaterina Mamontova (director)  
  • Sacha Koulaeva (author) 
  • Oleg Orlov (Memorial)  
  • Dmitry Muratov (Novaya Gazeta)  

Opening remarks: 
  • Barbara Massing (Director General Deutsche Welle)

Moderator:  
  • Olga Tikhomirova (DW) 

Please register on the next page.

For interviews with the directors and the author, please contact communication@dw.com. 

We look forward to seeing you there.  

Kind regards,  

DW Events