The Putin era in Russian politics began on 31 December 1999, shortly before the millennium celebrations. The children born on that day and at the turn of the millennium have now come of age. They have only ever known ex-KGB man Vladimir Putin at the pinnacle of power. What do this generation think and feel? Some are ardent Putin opponents, for others he is an idol. Some want to leave the country others want to fight for change. From the perspective of these millennium children, torn between private dreams and political aspirations, a nuanced portrait of the ‚Putin generation‘ emerges.

In 2012, the Russian performance artist Petr Pavlensky attracted international attention when he sewed his mouth shut with a coarse thread to demonstrate his solidarity with the convicted members of Pussy Riot. According to Pavlensky, political artists in Putin's Russia are being robbed of their voice and condemned to silence.