Acclaimed Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev has been designated a “foreign agent” by Kremlin authorities, a move that follows his public condemnation of Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine. The label was announced on Friday by state news agency TASS.
Zvyagintsev gained international attention last year when he won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival for his film Leviathan—though the source text links this achievement to his cinematic work depicting a businessman forced to choose which employees face mobilization. In his acceptance speech, the director called for an end to the conflict, stating that millions on both sides of the front line dream only of stopping the massacres, while identifying President Vladimir Putin as the only figure capable of ending the war.
The Russian Ministry of Justice justified the designation by accusing Zvyagintsev of spreading “false information” regarding the decisions and policies of Russian public authorities. Officials noted that the 62-year-old director resides outside the Russian Federation, having lived abroad since the onset of the COVID pandemic, and has previously interacted with individuals already classified as foreign agents.
The
Leviathan was a masterpiece. I hope his voice still reaches audiences despite this designation.
Does anyone actually believe the ‘false information’ claim, or is this purely political retribution?
Another filmmaker silenced. The ‘foreign agent’ label is just a tool to crush dissent now.
This is a tragic loss for Russian cinema. Zvyagintsev deserves better than silence.