Moscow raises concerns over child consent and use of school footage.

Russia on Wednesday criticised the Oscar-winning documentary “Mr Nobody Against Putin,” claiming it included footage of children filmed without parental consent in its first official response to the film’s award success.

The film, created by Russian videographer Pavel Talankin and US director David Borenstein, documents pro-war patriotic lessons introduced in Russian schools during President Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine campaign.

Talankin, 35, who worked at a small-town school, was initially tasked with filming these lessons but later collaborated secretly with the American filmmaker. He fled Russia in 2024 with the footage and has since spoken out against the war.

Russia’s human rights council said the images of minors were used without parental permission and argued the recordings were originally meant for internal educational use, not commercial distribution.

The body has called on the Academy Awards organisers and UNESCO to investigate the matter.

Moscow has not addressed the film’s content directly, and state media have largely ignored its Oscar win. The documentary has also sparked debate among critics of the Kremlin, with some echoing concerns about consent.

CBI News reports that since launching its offensive in Ukraine, Russian authorities have tightened control over dissent and expanded patriotic programmes in schools, which critics say are aimed at building support for the war.