{{Infobox television | image = The last minister posters.jpeg | caption = Promotional poster | genre = {{Plainlist| * Black comedy * Political satire }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Yan Tsapnik * Olga Sutulova * Sergey Epishev * Sofia Lebedeva }} | country = Russia | language = Russian | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 31 | producer = {{Plainlist| * Aleksandr Tsekalo * Olga Filipuk * Dmitriy Nelidov }} | location = {{Plainlist| * Moscow }} | camera = Single-camera | runtime = 24-46 minutes | company = {{Plainlist| * Sreda }} | channel = KinoPoisk HD | first_aired = {{Start date|2020|03|26}}<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeLySRUTpLM Official Trailer] on YouTube (In Russian)</ref> | last_aired = {{End date|2022|02|19}} | creator = {{Plainlist| * Roman Volobuev }} | writer = {{Plainlist| * Roman Volobuev * Lena Vanina * Dmitry Minaev (Season 2) }} | director = {{Plainlist| * Roman Volobuev }} }} '''''The Last Minister''''' (Russian: '''Последний Министр''', translit'''.''' ''Posledniy Ministr'') is a Russian dark comedy television series made by Sreda for KinoPoisk streaming service.<ref>[https://www.vokrug.tv/product/show/15748805981/ "The Last Minister"], on Vokrug.tv</ref> As of 2024, two seasons have been produced, plus a 40-minute Christmas special.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Трейлер: новогодний эпизод сериала "Последний министр" Романа Волобуева|url=https://www.afisha.ru/article/news-treyler-novogodniy-epizod-seriala-posledniy-ministr-romana-volobueva/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=Афиша}}</ref> Season 2 premiere episode was screened at the Kinotavr Film Festival on September 25, 2021<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-28|title=«Кинотавр-2021»: сериалы фестиваля, которые вам точно стоит посмотреть|url=https://www.gq.ru/entertainment/kinotavr-2021-serialy-festivalya-kotorye-vam-tochno-stoit-posmotret|access-date=2021-11-13|website=GQ Россия|language=ru-RU}}</ref> with the rest of the season starting to air on December 2 the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Премьера второго сезона "Последнего министра" состоится 2 декабря|url=https://tass.ru/kultura/12954801|access-date=2022-01-16|website=ТАСС}}</ref> In February 2022 the show permanently went off the air at the request of its show-runner Roman Volobuev<ref>{{Cite web |title=Режиссер Волобуев попросил остановить показ своего комедийного сериала из-за войны |url=https://www.znak.com/2022-02-25/rezhisser_volobuev_poprosil_ostanovit_pokaz_svoego_komediynogo_seriala_iz_za_voyny |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=www.znak.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brassard |first=Jeffrey |date=2022-12-22 |title=Satire in Putin's Russia: Cynical Distance as a Tool of State Power |url=http://viewjournal.eu//articles/10.18146/view.287/ |journal=VIEW Journal of European Television History and Culture |language=en |volume=11 |issue=22 |pages=54–65 |doi=10.18146/view.287 |issn=2213-0969|doi-access=free }}</ref> in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
== Premise == Tikhomirov, a well-meaning but hapless apparatchik in grips of mid-life crisis is appointed to run Russia's Ministry of Long-term planning - a small, underfunded, understaffed and generally ignored state agency. With a team consisting of sycophants and corrupt cynics he embarks on an idiotic quest to make Russia great again.
== Cast and characters ==
=== Main === *Yan Tsapnik as Tikhomirov, Minister of Long-term planning *Olga Sutulova as Nechaeva, a corrupt 1st Deputy Minister *Sergey Epishev as Vikentyev, an insane 2nd Deputy Minister *Sofia Lebedeva as Sonya, a naive intern who's rapidly rising through the Ministry's ranks *Anna Shepeleva as Ingeborge, a permanently pregnant Minister's personal assistant *Alexey Zolotovitsky as Dudar, director of the Ministry's Directorate for External Communications *Darya and Ekaterina Nosik as Lutch and Skotch, diabolical twins who run the Ministry's Analytical Department *Sergey Styopin as Ukhov, an undercover FSB agent who is believed to be the Ministry's fire safety officer *Elvira Kekeyeva as Gemma, the Ministry's HR officer *Alexandra Drozdova as Lera, Sonya's assistant (Season 2)
=== Recurring === *Nelli Uvarova as Raisa, Minister's ex-wife and concrete tycoon *Olga Dibtseva as Larisa, a biathlete and Minister's mistress *Polina Fedina as Kira, Minister's teenage daughter *Fyodor Lavrov as Plotnikov, a functionary from the Prime Minister's Office *Farhad Guseinov as Nodir, Minister's personal driver *Alisa Khazanova as Antonova, a detective with the Investigative Committee of Russia (season 2; guest season 1) *Grigoriy Kaninin as Smirnov, a federal investigator and Antonova's partner (season 2; guest season 1) *Alexander Iliyn as X, prime minister's chief of staff *Roman Volobuev as Y, head of the Department of External Policy *Ekaterina Vilkova as Z, head of the Department of Internal Policy (season 2) *Konstantin Murzenko as Father Vitaliy, a liaison with the Russian Orthodox Church *Ekaterina Gorina as Oksana Gerasimenko, an investigative reporter for ''Telegraph'', Russia's only surviving newspaper (season 1) *Ekaterina Steblina as Polina Nemirovskaya, a Moscow correspondent for ''The Guardian'' (season 2; guest season 1), *Andrey Merzlikin as Vasya, Minister's childhood friend and a former gangster *Yuri Tsurilo as Ranevskiy, the Governor of Saratov Oblast
=== Guests === *Konstantin Bogomolov as Fyodor, Russia's only Oscar-winning filmmaker (seаson 1) *Anna Chipovskaya as Redkina, a vice president of Pornhub (seаson 1) *Anton Bagmet as Zakhar, a writer (seаson 1) *Viktor Kulyukhin as Snegirev, a filmmaker (seаson 1) *Vadim Lobanov as Vladimir Pozner (seаson 1) *Odin Biron as Edward Snowden (season 2) *Alexander Gorchilin as Andrey Zvyaginsev (season 2) *Sergey Gilyov as Igor F. Baranoff, Alaskan separatist (season 2) *Timofey Tribuntsev as the voice of Prime Minister (seаson 1) *Aleksandr Bashirov as Prime Minister (seаson 2) *Andrey Arzyaev as Leskov, First Vice Premier (seаson 2)
==Episodes== <onlyinclude>{{Series overview
| color1 = #57A5D6 | link1 = <includeonly>List of The Last Minister episodes</includeonly>#Season 1 (2020) | episodes1 = 15 | start1 = {{Start date|2020|3|26}} | end1 = {{End date|2020|5|23}}
| color2 = #B60205 | link2 = <includeonly>List of The Last Minister episodes</includeonly>#Season 2 (2021) | episodes2 = 16 | start2 = {{Start date|2021|12|02}} | end2 = {{End date|2022|2|26}} }}</onlyinclude>
===Season 1 (2020)=== {{Episode table |background=#57A5D6 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=20 |director=18 |writer=25 |airdate=18 |episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 1 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 |Title = The Idiot (Parts I and II) |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev, Lena Vanina & Dmitriy Nelidov |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|3|26}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 2 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 |Title = Civil Society |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev, Lena Vanina & Roman Nepomnyashchiy |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 3 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 |Title = Hochwälder's Hamster |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|3}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 4 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 |Title = Metaphor of Childhood |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev, Lena Vanina & Roman Nepomnyashchiy |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|6}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 5 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 |Title = Benevolent Paws |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|11}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 6 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 |Title = Love Is |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|14}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 7 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 |Title = I Won't Be Back |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|18}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 8 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 |Title = The Bigger Picture |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|21}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 9 |EpisodeNumber2 = 9 |Title = A Sober Way |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|4|25}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 10 |EpisodeNumber2 = 10 |Title = The Return |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|5}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 11 |EpisodeNumber2 = 11 |Title = Panda Strategy |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev, Lena Vanina & Roman Nepomnyashchiy |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|9}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 12 |EpisodeNumber2 = 12 |Title = 20 Minutes |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|12}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 13 |EpisodeNumber2 = 13 |Title = Soul State |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|16}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 14 |EpisodeNumber2 = 14 |Title = Heartland |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|19}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 15 |EpisodeNumber2 = 15 |Title = Shadow On the Wall |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|5|23}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = 57A5D6 }} }}
===Season 2 (2021)=== {{Episode table |background=#B60205 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=20 |director=18 |writer=25 |airdate=18 |episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 16 |EpisodeNumber2 = 0 |Title = The Short Day |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|12|26}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 17 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 |Title = No One Promised It Would Be Easy |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|02}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 18 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 |Title = Petting Zoo |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|02}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 19 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 |Title = A Better Tomorrow |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|02}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 20 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 |Title = Ministry of Fear |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|11}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 21 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 |Title = Nostalghia |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|18}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 22 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 |Title = Russian Spring |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|25}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 23 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 |Title = First on the Moon |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|1}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 24 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 |Title = Citizen X |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|8}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 25 |EpisodeNumber2 = 9 |Title = Unit B |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Lena Vanina |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|15}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 26 |EpisodeNumber2 = 10 |Title = Biopic |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|22}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 27 |EpisodeNumber2 = 11 |Title = The New Ethics |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev & Polina Fedina |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|1|29}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 28 |EpisodeNumber2 = 12 |Title = The Voice of Mordor |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|2|5}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 29 |EpisodeNumber2 = 13 |Title = Provisional |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|2|12}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 30 |EpisodeNumber2 = 14 |Title = Volga Gambit |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev & Dmitriy Minaev |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|2|19}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 31 |EpisodeNumber2 = 15 |Title = The Last Draft |DirectedBy = Roman Volobuev |WrittenBy = Roman Volobuev |OriginalAirDate = Unaired |ShortSummary = |LineColor = B60205 }} }}
== Production ==
=== Background === Producer Aleksandr Tsekalo started developing a comedy about corrupt bureaucrats originally known as ''The Ministry''<ref>{{Cite web|title="Ведомости" узнали о планах "Яндекса" по созданию собственных сериалов|url=https://rb.ru/news/yandex-series/|access-date=2020-06-19|website=Rusbase|language=ru}}</ref> in 2015.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title="Злость, вранье, перекладывание ответственности — в режиссерской профессии": Роман Волобуев о сериале "Последний министр"|url=https://meduza.io/feature/2020/04/20/realnost-bezumnaya-a-politicheskaya-realnost-tak-i-vdvoyne|access-date=2020-06-19|website=Meduza}}</ref> The pilot was written by Pavel Bardin<ref name=":1" /> with Maksim Pezhemsky slated to direct.<ref name=":2" /> Due to high level of political censorship on Russian broadcast TV Tsekalo was unable to find a network willing to commission the show,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-07|title="Последний министр": Роман Волобуев — о том, как сделать политический сериал в стране без политики|url=https://www.the-village.ru/village/weekend/weeknd-interview/378685-volobuev|access-date=2020-06-19|website=The Village}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Александр Цекало: "Актеры снимаются у нас практически бесплатно"|url=https://mirnov.ru/kultura/kino-i-tv/aleksandr-cekalo-aktery-snimayutsja-u-nas-prakticheski-besplatno.html|access-date=2020-06-19|website=Mir Novostei|language=ru}}</ref> but the emergence of streaming services eventually allowed him to sidestep the obstacle. In 2018 Roman Volobuev and Lena Vaninа were signed to write a 15-episode first season with Volobuev directing.<ref name=":0" />
=== Writing === Volobuev described ''The Last Minister'' as "an Aaron Sorkin show were everyone has irrevocably lost their conscience".<ref>{{Cite web|title=8 российских сценаристов — о своих фильмах и профессии — Статьи на КиноПоиске|url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/media/article/4000981/|access-date=2020-06-19|website=КиноПоиск|language=ru}}</ref> Some of the show's characters and ideas were borrowed<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Роман Волобуев: "Я хотел, чтобы "Последний министр" был эпической ампирной комедией" — Статьи на КиноПоиске|url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/media/article/4001025/|access-date=2020-06-19|website=КиноПоиск|language=ru}}</ref> from Volobuev and Vanina's aborted series ''Zavtra'' about Russia’s liberal opposition unexpectedly winning presidential elections in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Walker|first=Shaun|date=2015-03-06|title=Satirists seek crowdfunding to kickstart political comedy in Putin's Russia|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/06/satirists-seek-crowdfunding-to-kickstart-political-comedy-in-putins-russia|access-date=2020-06-19|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
=== Filming === The show's first season was filmed in 2019 over period of 3 months mostly on soundstage in Moscow.<ref>[https://www.kinopoisk.ru/media/article/4000960/?from_block=editorial_choice Идиот, кипяток, Россия: Репортаж со съемок сериала Романа Волобуева «Последний министр»], КиноПоиск HD</ref> Principal photography on the second season started in October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Роман Волобуев объявил о старте съемок второго сезона сериала КиноПоиск HD "Последний министр" — Новости на КиноПоиске|url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/media/news/4003171/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=КиноПоиск|language=ru}}</ref>
== Reception ==
=== Critical response === The show's first season won acclaim from Russian critics for its absurdist setting,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-28|title=Деятельный идиот. Как "Последний министр" Романа Волобуева высмеивает российских чиновников {{!}} ForbesLife|url=https://www.forbes.ru/forbeslife/396287-deyatelnyy-idiot-kak-posledniy-ministr-romana-volobueva-vysmeivaet-rossiyskih|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Forbes.ru|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Первый взгляд на сериал "Последний министр".|url=https://kanobu.ru/articles/pervyij-vzglyad-na-serial-poslednij-ministr-politicheskaya-satira-ot-eks-kinokritika-romana-volobuev-375197/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=kanobu.ru|language=en}}</ref> writing<ref>{{Cite web|title=Какие российские сериалы стоит смотреть|url=https://meduza.io/slides/kakie-rossiyskie-serialy-stoit-smotret|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Meduza}}</ref> and visual stile.<ref>{{Cite web|title="Последний министр": посмотрите, что происходит с Россией в сериале Романа Волобуева|url=https://www.buro247.ru/culture/serialy/25-mar-2020-the-last-minister-by-volobuyev.html|access-date=2020-06-21|website=BURO.|language=ru}}</ref> Mikhail Trofimenkov of ''Kommersant'' called it “the one comedy to capture and preserve the spirit of ‘era of stability’ (an ironic Russian moniker for Putin's years in power)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Чин чина потешай|work=Коммерсантъ|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4344115|access-date=2020-06-21}}</ref>”. It was also praised for breaking an unofficial ban on LGBTQ characters on Russian TV by making one of its main protagonists — Nechaeva — a closeted lesbian.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kuvshinova|first=Maria|date=2020-06-11|title=Ирина Горбачева, Ольга Сутулова и lesbian vibes в российском кино|url=https://kkbbd.com/2020/06/11/lesbian-vibes-in-russian-cinema/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=kimkibabaduk|language=ru-RU}}</ref> Some outlets criticised the series for relying too heavily on inside jokes<ref>{{Cite web|title="Последний министр": Страна победившего сканворда|url=https://www.kino-teatr.ru/kino/art/serial/5628/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Кино-Театр.РУ}}</ref> and playing safe with its political subject matter.<ref>{{Cite web|title="Последний министр": офисный ситком про законодательные инициативы|url=https://rg.ru/2020/05/28/poslednij-ministr-ofisnyj-sitkom-pro-zakonodatelnye-iniciativy.html|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Российская газета}}</ref> Ogoniok’s Andrey Archangelsky called out show’s writing team for “falling too much in love with their own characters, effectively becoming their hostages” and eventually “drifting away from the subjects of big politics, greed and power-lust towards much safer and well-trodden melodramatic story<ref>{{Cite news|title=Карточный домик районного масштаба|work=Огонёк|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4322567|access-date=2020-06-21}}</ref>”.
=== Awards === For its first season ''The Last Minister'' was nominated for APKiT Awards in a Best Comedy Series category.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Премия АПКиТ 2021: шорт-лист|url=https://www.proficinema.ru/mainnews/awards/detail.php?ID=320770|access-date=2021-03-21|website=www.proficinema.ru|language=ru}}</ref>
Second season was nominated for National Web Industry Awards in three categories: best series, best director and best actor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Номинанты 2021 |url=https://premia-w.ru/nominees2021 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=premia-w.ru}}</ref>
== Censorship controversy == After Season 2 was completed in early 2021 its release was delayed'','' pre-production on the planned Season 3 was also halted.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Щербинина|first=Ольга|date=2021-11-17|title=Второй сезон "Последнего министра" стартует 2 декабря. "Би-би-си" сообщало, что у сериала "возникли проблемы" — Кино и сериалы на TJ|url=https://tjournal.ru/tv/476714-vtoroy-sezon-poslednego-ministra-startuet-2-dekabrya-bi-bi-si-soobshchalo-chto-u-seriala-voznikli-problemy|access-date=2021-11-18|website=TJ}}</ref> According to the ''BBC'' investigation<ref>{{Cite news|title="У нас запрет на реальность". Почему в российском кино и сериалах все больше табу|language=ru|work=BBC News Русская служба|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-59255248|access-date=2021-11-13}}</ref> the show was deemed ‘politically problematic’ because of episodes depicting a fictional secession of Saratov Oblast from the Russian Federation and satirising a real-life criminal case against the former Khabarovsk Krai Governor Sergei Furgal. A week after ''BBC Russian Service'' broke the story Season 2 air date was announced.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Вышел долгожданный трейлер второго сезона "Последнего министра". Уф, мы уже и не надеялись!|url=https://meduza.io/shapito/2021/11/18/vyshel-dolgozhdannyy-treyler-vtorogo-sezona-poslednego-ministra-uf-my-uzhe-i-ne-nadeyalis|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Meduza|language=ru}}</ref> ''KinoPoisk'' CEO and show’s executive producer Olga Filipuk later denied censorship claims citing “boring aspects of repertoire planning, nothing as dramatic as being banned or unbanned”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Кузьмин|first=Женя|date=2021-12-29|title=Большое интервью TJ с "Кинопоиском": где Гарри Поттер, как работают алгоритмы, прошёл ли "волшебный период" для сериалов — Интернет на TJ|url=https://tjournal.ru/internet/500498-bolshoe-intervyu-tj-s-kinopoiskom-gde-garri-potter-kak-rabotayut-algoritmy-proshel-li-volshebnyy-period-dlya-serialov|access-date=2022-01-16|website=TJ}}</ref> as a sole reason for Season 2 being delayed.
== Going off the air in protest against Russian invasion of Ukraine == Season 2 finale slated to air on February 23, 2022 was shelved indefinitely in protest against Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Протесты против вторжения в Украину |url=https://zona.media/chronicle/soldrty-ukr/43943 |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=Медиазона |language=ru}}</ref> In a statement posted on Twitter Roman Volobuev wrote that this was done at his request since he no longer saw it possible to make light-hearted jokes about Russian politics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roman Volobuev |url=https://twitter.com/romanvolobuev/status/1497261430193725442 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref> He also called out show’s supposed fans among Russian government officials: ‘Horror films should be made about you, not comedies. Go take a look in a mirror, check if your reflection still looks human’.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roman Volobuev |url=https://twitter.com/romanvolobuev/status/1497262860556292103 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title|9742812|The Last Minister}} * [https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/1236796/ The Last Minister] on kinopoisk.ru * [https://mubi.com/films/the-last-minister The Last Minister] on Mubi
{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Minister (TV series), The}}
Category:KinoPoisk original programming Category:2020s Russian television series Category:Russian political television series