In Russia, citizens who dare to protest once morest the invasion of Ukraine are systematically arrested. The state represses any form of protest and yet voices are raised. In particular those of Russian artists. They know they risk ending up in prison but for them, it is time for fear to change sides.
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On YouTube, a new account has appeared and it has already accumulated thousands of views. This is “Animator once morest war” (“Animation Filmmakers Against War”). Nearly 200 Russians are part of it, designers, graphic designers, sound engineers too. Together, they create short films to denounce the invasion of Ukraine.
Daria is at the initiative of the project. Some of his friends were arrested on the sidelines of peaceful artistic actions in Moscow. “We mourn with Ukraine, it is our duty to say: ‘Please stop the war!’ launches the filmmaker. This war was the greatest fear of many Russians and it happened. For me, it’s like the great disaster. Nothing can be worse than that. But this disaster killed our fear.”
“It is very dangerous to protest in the street but we are going because the situation deserves that I take the risk of being arrested.”
Daria, member of “Animators once morest war”at franceinfo
Beyond displaying his disagreement, the artist also hopes to fight once morest government propaganda. In Russia, on TV, the words “attack” or “invasion” are banned and the Ukrainian state is demonized. “Our videos and our photos, I hope they will be seen because in Russia some citizens are not convinced that this war is unjust. We want to address them as a priority and we are only one voice among so many ‘others.”
Nadya Svirskaia, a 44-year-old Muscovite is also part of the movement of animation filmmakers once morest the war. She knows that art cannot stop Russian tanks. Moreover, his Ukrainian friends did not all understand his short film project. “We decided to continue because we don’t have many other ways to express our opinions.explains the artist. It is a crime in Russia to say stop to war. We received a lot of warm reactions from other citizens who tried to resist and did not know how to express themselves. Now they feel less alone and I think that’s important.”
“When we no longer have a legal way to protest, we can still use art, I hope no one will go to prison for that but what is certain is that we can lose our jobs. “
Nadya Svirskaiaat franceinfo
Despite the danger, artists are also mobilizing in the streets. In Moscow, for example, his friends covered trees with messages once morest the war in Ukraine.
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One of the participants was arrested by the police. “We are scared but we must continue to protest because this war is the worst thing that might happen to us”, says Nadya Svirskaia. Some animation filmmakers have received pressure from their studios. If they speak, it’s the door. Nadya Svirskaia also assures that the Museum of Modern Arts in Moscow is preparing to dismiss several employees for having signed an open letter from Russian culture and art workers once morest the war with Ukraine.
