Putin's Palace: History of World's Largest Bribe

This 2021 documentary by Alexei Navalny and his team investigates the connection between a vast palace near Gelendzhik and Vladimir Putin. Navalny survived poisoning with the Novichok nerve agent and released the film just before returning to Russia; after publication he went back and was arrested at the airport. The production builds a chain of ownership out of building plans, satellite imagery, tender records and interior drawings. The documentary runs over two hours and was watched more than a hundred million times on YouTube, becoming one of the triggers of protests in Russia. The Kremlin denied the claims and it was stated that the palace belonged to another businessman. The film is therefore the presentation of an investigation, not a court finding, and is best watched knowing that. Navalny died in prison in 2024. Who it's for: viewers interested in Russian politics, corruption investigations and opposition communication. Who it's not for: anyone expecting a neutral presentation, or who would overlook that the claims have not been independently verified.