Russia's political prisoners – Voices that defy the Kremlin | DW Documentary
In Russia, criticizing President 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 the Politzek 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. His teachers reported him to Russia’s domestic intelligence agency, the FSB.
Now 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. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion into Ukraine, Sasha placed price tags in a grocery store with messages of protest against Putin’s war. A court in St. Petersburg sentenced her to seven years in a penal colony. After more than two years of imprisonment, she was finally freed in a prisoner exchange.
Another released prisoner was Oleg Orlov — co-founder of the human rights organization Memorial, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.
This film gives a voice to all those still enduring Russia’s prisons and penal colonies.
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Video “Russia's political prisoners – Voices that defy the Kremlin | DW Documentary” was uploaded on 12/06/2025 by DW Documentary Youtube channel.