Culture Ministry to rethink Russia’s ban on profanity
Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky says the government will re-examine a 2014 law banning all swearing in mass media, and likely propose several amendments.
In comments to the press, Medinsky indicated he doesn’t support returning obscenities to television, theater, literature, or wide-release films, but he could envisage allowing swearing at events like film festivals, where audience members are all older than 18.
On January 20, 2015, several prominent filmmakers in Russia appealed to Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, asking the government to reform the June 2014 law banning profanity in movies. In response, Medvedev ordered the Culture Ministry to study possible amendments to the law, despite objections from conservative members of the Duma.
“It’s very difficult to come up with perfect legislation. We’re going to study the regulatory enforcement of this law and propose something [more] realizable, so the law is observed. The number of requirements under the law might be reduced somewhat, but responsibility for noncompliance will become more severe,” Medinsky told reporters.
- Entering force on July 1, 2014, Russia’s anti-profanity law bans all swearing in films, television broadcasts, plays, and other mass media. Offenders face fines ranging from $35 to $725. The law was spearheaded by Yelena Mizulina, best known for her role drafting legislation against “homosexual propaganda” and the foreign adoption of Russian orphan children.
- In the summer of 2014, several major film festivals in Russia cut up to a third of their programs, fearing noncompliance with the anti-profanity law.