A Russian court docket has issued a warrant for the arrest of outstanding worldwide movie producer Alexander Rodnyansky in addition to theater director Ivan Vyrypaev for “spreading false details about the struggle” in Ukraine.

The court docket doc states that it plans to arrest the 2 – each of whom reside exterior of Russia proper now – as soon as Russian authorities detain them or are capable of get them extradited. 

Rodnyansky, who has lengthy been identified for working with Russia’s grassroot filmmakers corresponding to Leviathan and Loveless helmer Andrey Zvyaginstev and Kira Kovalenko, who received Un Sure Regard in Cannes in 2021, spoke with Deadline in the present day when he first realized of the information and stated he’s in all probability “not the primary and positively not the final” of people that will probably be focused for standing as much as the Russian regime. 

“That is loopy – I’m simply laughing about it,” stated the Kyiv-born media mogul. “They’ve arrested me in absentia, which implies that in the event that they handle to arrest me bodily then they’ll trial me with I assume as much as 10 years of imprisonment.”

“However that is the intimidation of the society. They’re making an attempt to carry to trial all the people who find themselves talking out to ensure that everybody to maintain the silence. That is what Russia is making an attempt to do – create all of those issues to make the society hold silent and they’re making an attempt to normalize the madness of what’s going on in the present day.” 

When requested if he was frightened of the information, Rodnyansky stated, “, I wouldn’t complain. I’m exterior of Russia and I’m making an attempt to make Russians conscious of what’s going on in Ukraine. So, principally that is the battle for these Russian individuals who perceive what’s going on.”

Final 12 months, one week after Russia invaded Ukraine, Rodnyansky fled his Moscow dwelling of twenty years together with his spouse and one suitcase after having gotten wind that he was rousing suspicion inside Russia’s prime authorities heads after talking out about his opposition to the struggle. 

He advised Deadline earlier this 12 months that he “not had any enterprise with Russia” not owned his manufacturing firm NonStop Productions. He continues to work via his AR Content material banner.