Academy Award winner and documentarian Alex Gibney is shining a light on Russia’s “sham elections” and how Putin uses them to create the illusion of democracy. On “Salon Talks,” while discussing his new film “Citizen K,” Gibney shared what he learned about the sham elections and what they say to the world about Putin’s power. To learn more about Gibney’s new film and how Putin’s control and power extends to American politics, watch the full episode on “Salon Talks.”

The film opens in New York on January 15, with a nationwide release following.