The British public television Channel 4 intends to release an “amazing documentary series” about Russian President Vladimir Putin. A press release published by the broadcaster specifies that Rogan Productions, the company that creates content for large television channels (including BBC and Al Jazeera), will be involved in the production of the three-part series.

“This landmark series, which was shot in Russia, America, Europe and the UK, will demonstrate how Putin brought his knowledge of espionage craft to the management of a nuclear power. The series will be released in the twentieth year of Putin’s power, it will present an exhaustive analysis of his rule and the changes that it has undergone in the modern world, ”Channel 4 press service promised.

Customers plan to make an “unprecedented journey into the minds of this leader of the 21st century” to show how Putin’s personal experience influenced his policies, how “in the atmosphere of betrayal, pride and anger” modern Russia was created and how “Putin’s values ​​were exported all over the world - from Crimea and Salisbury to Washington. "

The release states that "the extraordinary story of Vladimir Putin" began in Leningrad in 1968, "when 16-year-old Putin, passionately dreaming of becoming a spy, knocked on the door of the KGB." Over the years, Channel 4 notes, the future Russian leader will join the structure, “feel the taste of money and power” and ultimately become president.

The British television channel admits that when Putin first took the presidency, the country was in decline - but then everything changed: the new president “made Russia great again” and returned it to the world stage. According to Channel 4, “Putin’s barely comprehensible, cunning and unpredictable style of government is imbued with the values ​​of the KGB”, and “fake news, the rise of populism and the harsh sayings of the head of state are the product of Putin’s presidency,” but today Vladimir Putin is perhaps the most influential leader of his time.

Understand Vladimir Putin

Executive producer of the project was James Rogan, founder of Rogan Productions. This is not the first time he has addressed the topic of Russia: in 2016, the cinematographer released the documentary Waiting for Invasion ("Waiting for the invasion") about how "25 years after gaining independence from Russia, Lithuania is afraid to again be under occupation."

According to Rogan, in order to understand the situation in the modern world, it is necessary to understand Vladimir Putin: it was he who proved himself to be one of the most powerful politicians of the 21st century.

“In the series, we are exploring how he, as a former spy, changed his notions of politics and how this influenced the whole world,” Rogan emphasizes.

The head of Channel 4's documentary department, Fatima Salaria, promises that the collaboration between Rogan, director Nick Green and producer Paul Mitchell will be “skillful narratives, excellent archival materials, and curious interviews with those who saw and experienced these events.”

It is expected that excerpts from the speeches of Putin himself, people close to him and those who were influenced by his actions will be used in the series.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question from RT that Channel 4 has not yet made any attempts to get any comments from Vladimir Putin for the series, and the Russian leader knows nothing about this project.

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Interview with Putin

To date, the most famous documentary about Vladimir Putin is a four-part project “An Interview with Putin” by the American director, screenwriter and producer Oliver Stone. The winner of three Oscar awards spoke with the Russian leader for a total of more than 20 hours (according to some sources, 30). The first episode of the film was shown by Showtime on June 12, 2017.

After the release of the tape, many Western media accused Stone of sympathizing with the Russian leader, some convicted the director of "bowing and servility" and "Kremlin propaganda." It is noteworthy that in the last episode of the film, Putin himself warns Stone that he will "get it."

However, not all Western journalists were of this opinion. So, The Guardian wrote that the film over time "becomes more objective."

Oliver Stone denied allegations of bias. He repeatedly emphasized that he acted correctly, and with Putin they got a “good dance”.

“I am only a messenger, I do not support anyone’s opinion and do not accept anyone’s position. I was able to start filming this film thanks to my reputation, ”the director explained.