A man speaks into microphones surrounded by journalists and people with banners.

Screenings

Tuesday 03/18 15:00

Evald

Language: English, Kyrgyz, Russian
Subtitles: Czech, English

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Panic Button

(Panic Button)

The cooperation of Central Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan helps Russia resist Western economic sanctions. Due to the country’s strategic location, all Chinese goods bound for Central Asia and Russia must cross its borders, and it serves as a transshipment point for goods from countries with which Putin is not officially allowed to trade. Investigative journalist Ali Toktakunov, a long-time staff member of Radio Free Europe’s Kyrgyz section, helped to uncover the deeper implications.

This was one of a series of cases that made Toktakunov an inconvenient figure to the corrupt regime. His wife Samara Sagynbaeva, the director of this film, was also in danger. Her diary-style documentary presents a portrait of a courageous journalist and a cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy and the justice system in a country where freedom of speech is definitely not a certainty.

Right to Know

Dictatorships Politics Missuse of Power Asia

Basic information about the film

Title	Panic Button
Original Title	Panic Button
Original Language	English, Kyrgyz, Russian
Subtitles	Czech, English
Premiéra	World premiere
Film type	Full-length documentary
Year of Production	2025
Country of Origin	Czech Republic, Kyrgyzstan
Length	76 min.
Director	Samara Sagynbaeva

All screenings

03/15 18:00	Bio Oko Františka Křížka 15, Praha 7			tickets
03/18 15:00	Evald Národní 28, Praha 1			tickets

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