Russian Pensioners Film A Political Protest – With A Difference

After a scantily clad (yet still totally SFW) dance video filmed by cadets at a Russian flight school went viral earlier this year, the video content and the cadets themselves became the subjects of intense political scrutiny across the country as Russian authorities condemned the video and publicly demanded the cadets' expulsion. In response, tens, then hundreds of Russians from all walks of life posted similar videos doing exactly the same dance, and calling instead for an end to persecution.

Among those joining the call for reason, and freedom of expression, were two pensioners, Natalia Ioskevich and Ksenia Negredova, who filmed their own dance video—as a form of protest, and to draw attention to how badly many pensioners are treated in Russia.

This short video feature produced by the team at Coda Story shows Natalia and Ksenia performing their dance, and includes short but impactful interviews with surprisingly biting and insightful social commentary from the chain-smoking pair. As Natalia says, 'it's all jokes told through tears, really'.

This is one of the funniest and boldest dance video/interviews you'll ever watch. And a reminder that the political discourse in Russia is far more nuanced, and local, than where the world tends to pay its attention.