Watch On Putin's Blacklist

On Putin's Blacklist is a 2017 documentary film that explores the stories of individuals who have been targeted by the Putin regime in Russia. The film provides a comprehensive look at Putin's tactics and how he uses censorship, propaganda and disinformation to silence his critics and maintain power. The documentary features interviews with activists, journalists, and political dissidents who have been forced to flee the country or face imprisonment for speaking out against Putin's policies. Many of the individuals interviewed have been added to Putin's infamous blacklist, which contains the names of those who have been deemed a threat to the state.

The first part of the film focuses on the case of Bill Browder, an American businessman whose investment fund was expropriated by the Russian government. Browder became a vocal critic of the regime and pushed for sanctions against the country in response to their human rights abuses. Putin responded by accusing Browder of tax fraud and placing him on the blacklist. Browder's lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, uncovered evidence of the fraud and was subsequently arrested and tortured to death by Russian officials. The film also follows Browder's successful campaign to have the Magnitsky Act passed in the United States, which sanctioned Russian officials involved in the torture and death of Magnitsky.

The documentary also features the stories of political activist Maria Alyokhina of the band Pussy Riot, who was imprisoned for protesting Putin, and investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov, who faced harassment and surveillance from the Russian government for his reporting on internet censorship and surveillance. Another interviewee, Anna Politkovskaya, was a journalist who was assassinated in 2006 after writing critically about the war in Chechnya and Putin's regime.

The film also highlights the case of Boris Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister of Russia, who was assassinated in 2015. Nemtsov was a vocal critic of Putin and had published reports on corruption in the government. The documentary features interviews with Nemtsov's daughter, Zhanna, who has become an advocate for democracy and an outspoken critic of Putin's regime.

Throughout the film, the viewer sees how Putin's propaganda machine works to silence opposition voices and shape the narrative of events in Russia. The government controls most major media outlets in the country and has created a system of disinformation designed to confuse citizens and sow distrust of independent journalism. The film shows how social media is heavily monitored and censored, with bloggers and online activists facing increasing pressure to toe the government line.

The documentary also delves into the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in Putin's regime, which has become a major tool for promoting nationalist and conservative policies. The government has also used the church to legitimize its actions, with priests often blessing new weapons and mascots for Russian military units.

Throughout the film, the viewer is left with a sense of the scale of Putin's repressive regime and the fear that grips many of its citizens. It highlights how few options are left for those who dare to speak out against the government and the dangers they face in doing so.

Overall, On Putin's Blacklist is a sobering look at the state of democracy and human rights in Russia, and a reminder of the cost of speaking out against authoritarianism. The documentary is essential viewing for anyone interested in understanding the current state of affairs in one of the world's major powers and the challenges faced by those who seek to challenge the status quo.

On Putin's Blacklist is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 13 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.8.