Russia has designated Pavel Talankin, the teacher and central figure in the 2025 documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin, as a foreign agent. The move follows accusations that he disseminated inaccurate information about Russia's leadership and opposed the special military operation in Ukraine.
Talankin, who worked as a school videographer in Chelyabinsk, spent two years recording pro-war propaganda before fleeing Russia in 2024. He smuggled the footage out of the country to be used in the film, which won Best Documentary at the Academy Awards earlier in 2026.
A Russian court had banned the documentary from several streaming platforms the day before the designation, citing its promotion of negative attitudes toward the government and the war in Ukraine. The foreign agent label restricts his ability to hold public office and requires registration of his activities with authorities.