Absconded. Young Russians On The Run

The film documents the first two weeks after Russia's attack on Ukraine. The main protagonist, Egor Lesnoy, is an environmental activist, blogger and influencer from Irkutsk in Siberia. His greatest love is Lake Baikal, where he free-dives under the ice in winter and clears the lake bottom and shores of trash with like-minded people in summer. Until February 24, 2022, he was full of hope for a better future. But on that day, his life changed entirely. He and his family stand pars pro toto for many, mostly young Russians, who do not support their country's policy and do not want to remain silent about the war of aggression. Despite the threat of imprisonment, they protest against it in the streets and in the media. Many are arrested, convicted and often ostracized by their own countrymen. Meanwhile, millions of people have left Russia. They leave their families behind, abandon their homeland. Yet most are ashamed to talk about their pain and anger. They feel guilty for their country, but they don't want to be portrayed as victims. Our film is an attempt to give these people a voice, to clarify their motivations and fears.