A court in Russia has banned the documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin from three streaming platforms on the grounds that it “propagates extremism and terrorism”.
The feature, which won an Oscar earlier this month, documents the ramping up of war propaganda in a Russian school following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
It is based on footage collected by Pavel Talankin, a school events coordinator who later fled Russia.
Prosecutors argued that the documentary expressed a “negative attitude towards the [war in Ukraine] and the current government”, according to Russian media.
The deputy prosecutor also said the film featured the flag of a “terrorist organisation”, referring to the white-blue-white flag which has been used by anti-war protesters.
The ruling was issued by a court in the city of Chelyabinsk, not far from the town of Karabash, where Talankin’s school is located. It will require the film to be removed from three online video platforms.
Watch the documentary: Mr Nobody Against Putin
Russia’s school propaganda was highlighted by Oscar-winning film – but does it work?
From Mr Nobody to Oscar winner: How one man took on Putin
Earlier in March, a Russian governmental human rights body condemned the documentary for using footage of children collected without their parents’ consent and said it would appeal to the Academy that awards the Oscars to launch an investigation.
