How actionists became the enemies of Russia / Redaktsiya 

Description:

Karina Mukhutdinova’s film follows the story of actionists, a group of activists who once were tolerated but later faced arrests, being labeled foreign agents, and forced to leave Russia. The film explores their personal experiences, including Nika’s repeated arrests, the group’s provocative actions such as a performance on Putin’s birthday, and the violent repression they endured. It also delves into the psychological toll of actionism, the loss of homes and jobs, and the ongoing struggle of those who remain abroad. The narrative is interspersed with key moments marked by timestamps: 0:00 What is this story about? 1:15 Poisonings, torments and arrests - what is happening to the actionists? 2:37 "When I got arrested for the 4th time I realised that it would never end" – Nika’s story 5:40 Action made for Putin’s birthday 8:57 Nika got arrested while we were filming 10:30 "I’m always sure that the riot militiamen will come for me in any case" – Katrin’s story 11:10 Why would anybody walk with an iron bed on their back? 12:30 "At every railway station FSS militia are always waiting for me" – Pavel Krisevich’s story 16:20 "The workers of Centre for Combating Extremism think I’m their leader" – Pyotr Verzilov’s story 22:00 The majority is sure that the actionists are crazy 23:45 Kisses with policemen and a penis drawn on a bridge: what did the art group "The war" do? 25:30 Could the action in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior be imagined in today’s Russia? 28:45 Was Krisevich really a neighbor of Rotenbergs? 33:20 How Nika met Pyotr Verzilov 35:47 How did they manage to run on the football field during the game of the World Championship? 43:00 The poisoning of Pyotr Verzilov 48:07 Does Nika still consider herself a part of Pussy Riot? 49:20 The consequences of actionism: being left without a place to live, without a job and without friends 52:10 How Pavel hanged himself on Troitskiy bridge 53:30 How Pavel made a fire in front of the FSS building 55:34 What is "The party of the dead"? 57:15 "Police officers are a part of the performance" 58:29 Why was Katrin tortured in Donetsk? 1:00:15 Does actionism affect the psychological state? 1:01:30 What do actionists do for a living? 1:06:40 "A suicide" on Red Square 1:09:55 When did Nika make a decision to leave Russia? 1:12:17 What is it like, to live away from Russia? 1:13:37 What is happening to the characters of our movie now?