Russian Film Producer Alexander Rodnyansky Sentenced in Absentia

moscow - Russian film producer Alexander Rodnyansky has been sentenced to 8.5 years in prison by a Russian court for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian armed forces.

A Russian court has sentenced film producer Alexander Rodnyansky to 8.5 years in prison in absentia. The 63-year-old Rodnyansky was accused of spreading false information about the Russian military. Rodnyansky claimed that the verdict was related to his "anti-war messages" on Instagram. He stated on social media that no court can stop him from speaking out loudly and making films.

The film producer left Russia after the invasion of Ukraine began. He was outspokenly critical of Russia's war against his homeland on social media. Rodnyansky, originally from Kiev, spent a significant part of his career in Russia, producing television series and films, including the Oscar-nominated crime drama Leviathan.

In addition to Leviathan, another film produced by Rodnyansky, Loveless from 2017, also gained international recognition, winning the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival.