Oscar-nominated producer Alexander Rodnyansky has been sentenced, in absentia, to eight and a half years in prison by a Moscow court for spreading "fake" information about the Russian military.
Rodnyansky is best known for films like Leviathan and Loveless. Lately, he has also become known for his vocal criticism of the war in Ukraine, condemning the invasion on social media.
The 63-year-old producer left Russia soon after the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has spoken out against the war ever since. Born in Kyiv, he built much of his career in Russia, but his criticism of the Kremlin has put him at odds with Russian authorities.
He said the charges against him stem from his anti-war posts on Instagram.
This was reported by the Moscow Times.
Sentence for Speaking Out
The Basmanny District Court in Moscow found Rodnyansky guilty of "spreading knowingly false information about the use of the Russian armed forces," according to a statement from the court.
This charge has become common for Russians who oppose the war.
Rodnyansky responded to the verdict on Telegram, saying, "No Basmanny court can stop me from speaking loudly and doing what I have been doing all my life, making films." He has continued to speak out from abroad, despite the threat of imprisonment.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the government has cracked down on dissent. Thousands of people have been detained, fined, or jailed for opposing the war. Human rights groups have compared the repression to Soviet-era crackdowns on free speech.
Career and Criticism
Rodnyansky began his career in Ukraine, where he founded the country’s first independent television network in 1995.
However, his film work in Russia gained him international attention, especially with Leviathan (2014), which was nominated for an Oscar, and Loveless (2017), which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Though he is known for his Russian film work, Rodnyansky’s Ukrainian roots have shaped his outspoken criticism of the invasion. His condemnation of the Kremlin’s actions has made him a target of Russian authorities, as they continue to punish public figures who challenge the official narrative of the war.
