The German television broadcaster ARD is planning a big documentary about Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The film crew has already begun its work. Journalists accompanied Putin during his trip to China and attended a government presidium meeting on October 14. ARD correspondent Hubert Seipel told Izvestia that his team will accompany Putin to St Petersburg next week, where he will discuss CIS and Customs Union issues.
"We will be back in Moscow in November and will work with the prime minister for two weeks. We will return to Russia again after the New Year. Our documentary will air in March," Seipel said.
When asked whether the showing of the film was timed to the presidential elections in Russia, Seipel smiled mysteriously and made no comment. Nevertheless, the date speaks for itself. The initiative to make the film was ARD's.
Putin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told Izvestia: "This was a German initiative. We have received similar proposals from other foreign journalists, but after the ARD had already contacted us. We are not planning any other films."
Putin will give a big interview for the German documentary. The date of the interview has not yet been fixed but most probably it will be next year. The media will have no access to the interview – it will be an exclusive for the documentary.
The film will not touch on Putin's private life. It will be solely devoted to his work.
Currently, the German journalists are working with the prime minister's press pool. They fly in the same planes, stay in the same hotels and have the same limited access to the prime minister. They also film him at protocol events.
When Izvestia asked Seipel whether Putin's press service imposed any restrictions or gave recommendations on covering his activities, he gave us a look of surprise and a brisk reply: "Let them have a go!"
This is not the first time that Seipel has made a film about Russian politics. He said he had interviewed Putin two years ago when he was making a film about Gazprom. The ARD also recorded a big interview with Putin in September 2008, shortly after he became the prime minister.
Anastasia Novikova
