Zygar film revives Novgorod veche history as implicit contrast to Putin's rule

A new film by Mikhail Zygar highlights the Novgorod Republic's parliamentary traditions, framing them as an alternative to Moscow's autocratic lineage. The piece uses historical narrative to implicitly critique Putin's fondness for Alexander Nevsky, a figure associated with centralization. This is cultural-political commentary rather than a hard news event, but it signals ongoing elite-level discourse about Russia's political trajectory.