The Oscar for best documentary was awarded on Sunday to Navalnya film relating the events linked to the poisoning of the famous imprisoned Russian opponent, the Kremlin seeing it as an attempt to “politicize” the 7e art.
Directed by Canadian Daniel Roher, this investigation describes the political rise of Alexei Navalny, the assassination attempt which he barely survived and his subsequent imprisonment.
“And there is someone who could not be with us this evening: Alexei Navalny, the leader of the Russian opposition, remains in solitary confinement because of what he calls — I want to m sure to quote his words correctly — Vladimir Putin’s unjust war of aggression in Ukraine,” Roher said as he received the statuette.
The Kremlin for its part accused Hollywood of wanting to “politicize” the 7e art.
“Even though I haven’t seen the film, I suspect there is some element of a politicization of the subject,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
“Hollywood itself is not shy sometimes to proceed with a politicization of its works,” he added.
Imprisoned for more than two years, Mr. Navalny was arrested on his return to Russia after suffering this serious poisoning which he attributes to the Kremlin despite his denials.
Last March, he was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of “scam” which he considers fictitious.
“My husband is in prison simply because he told the truth. My husband is in prison simply because he defends democracy, ”launched the opponent’s wife, Yulia, on Sunday.
Produced by HBO Max and CNN Films, Navalny had premiered on January 25, 2022 at the Sundance Film Festival.
The prize for best documentary was awarded to him in February 2023 at the BAFTAs in London.