Show of Holodomor Film Disrupted in Moscow: First Thugs, Then Security Forces

The first shouted "fascists" and "shame", while the second locked all the viewers in and made them write explanations for why they had come to watch the film.

In Moscow, unknown people burst into the office of the International Memorial during a screening of the film about the Holodomor in Ukraine, The Price of Truth, shouting "fascists" and "shame" and disrupting the event.

The police who arrived removed the offenders, but took three Memorial employees away for questioning, locked the film's viewers in the office, and began questioning them about why they had come to see the film.

We provide details of what happened and about the film itself.

Disrupted Screening

During the screening of The Price of Truth about the Holodomor in Ukraine, dozens of unknown men burst into the premises.

Having burst into the building during the screening, the unknown men in protective masks shouted in the corridors "Everyone on the floor", then climbed onto the stage near the screen and began chanting: "fascists", "shame", "we won't forget, we won't forgive".

Memorial said there were about 30-35 such people.

Irina Ostrovskaya, co-chair of Memorial, said that a NTV film crew had come with them, as well as "a woman from another state channel who has already made false reports about us".

Police arrived at the employees' call with National Guard officers and inspected three men. The other attackers were soon escorted out.

At the same time, the organization reported that police had taken three employees to the station.

There, they said the other people who had come to the screening were blocked in the office by police. Officers conducted a survey and seized surveillance camera footage.

According to human rights activists, visitors were given questionnaires and asked to enter their details. They were also asked how they had got to the screening.

Orlova said the viewers were only released at 23:00, after they gave explanations for being at the film screening.

As is known, the Russian government, in an attempt to present a distorted history, completely denies that the Holodomor existed.

What the Film Is About

The film The Price of Truth tells a story based on real events about British journalist Gareth Jones, who travelled to Moscow in 1933 to interview Stalin.

His task is to uncover the real source of financing of the Soviet Union, which by that time was in fact bankrupt, yet somehow continued its extravagant existence.

There, he learns about mass repressions and the extermination of the Ukrainian people, known as the Holodomor.

After this, Jones secretly enters Ukraine to verify what he has heard and is astonished by what he sees: the Soviet regime drove millions of people to a state of extreme famine, while the country itself has enormous agricultural potential.

After this, the journalist reveals to the whole world the truth about the crimes of Stalin's regime in Ukraine.

The film was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival.

The film, a co-production of Ukraine, Poland and Britain, was directed by Agnieszka Holland.