Key facts
- Filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev was designated a 'foreign agent' by Russia on September 18, 2026.
- The designation cites Zvyagintsev's alleged dissemination of inaccurate information about Russian public authorities.
- Zvyagintsev has been critical of Russia's war in Ukraine.
- The 'foreign agent' label carries social stigma and legal/financial restrictions.
- Zvyagintsev's latest film, 'Minotaur,' won the Grand Prix at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
- Zvyagintsev has lived in exile in France since 2022.
Russia's Justice Ministry added acclaimed filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev to its list of "foreign agents" on September 18, 2026. The designation, which carries significant social stigma and legal restrictions, including a ban on holding public office, was applied due to Zvyagintsev's criticism of the war in Ukraine and alleged dissemination of "inaccurate information about decisions made by Russian public authorities." Zvyagintsev, one of Russia's most prominent contemporary directors, has lived in exile in France since 2022 and has not yet commented publicly on the news. His latest film, "Minotaur," which won the Grand Prix at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, has been described as an anti-war film and was chosen as France's submission for the 2027 Academy Awards. During his Cannes acceptance speech, Zvyagintsev appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict, stating that "millions of people on both sides of the front line have only one dream — that the countless killings will finally stop." Other cultural figures, such as writer Boris Akunin and musician Boris Grebenshchikov, have also been designated as foreign agents.