Russia accuses filmmakers of Czech-Danish Mr. Nobody Against Putin of illegal filming of children

Russia’s Presidential Human Rights Council has accused the creators of the Oscar-winning documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin of using footage of minors without parental consent. According to AFP, this marks Moscow’s first official response to the film, which criticizes the ideological indoctrination of Russian schoolchildren. The documentary was produced as a Czech-Danish co-production.

The footage was recorded by director Pavel Talankin, who also appears in the film and previously worked as a teacher in Russia. His recordings document propaganda practices at a school in a city beyond the Ural Mountains, particularly in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Before fleeing Russia in 2024, the increasingly disillusioned teacher decided to document not only state-mandated activities but also everyday life at the school and beyond.