Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney is shedding light on Putin's influence on international politics today by documenting how and why he rose to power in his new documentary "Citizen K." The film explores how Putin manipulates the idea of democracy through interviews with one of his critics, former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Gibney told Salon's Andrew O'Hehir on "Salon Talks" that "one of Putin's agendas, in terms of how he messes with the west, is to show that democracy is a sham." To learn more about how Putin grew his influence and Gibney's documentary, "Citizen K," watch the full episode on "Salon Talks."

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