Russia introduces new film censorship measures “to protect traditional values”
President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that expands the grounds for refusing distribution licenses to films. Beginning March 1, 2026, cinemas and online platforms will be prohibited from screening movies that, according to the authorities, “discredit traditional Russian spiritual and moral values” or “promote their denial.”
The initiative was authored by State Duma deputies Sergey Boyarsky, Anton Gorelkin, Marina Kim, and Federation Council senators Andrey Klishas and Lilia Gumerova. The Ministry of Culture will now have the power to revoke or amend already-issued licenses. If a license is withdrawn, online streaming services will be required to remove the film within 24 hours.
The law also obliges social networks and video platforms to monitor content for “discrediting values.” Fifteen services were named, including Russian platforms VKontakte, Rutube, and Yappy, as well as YouTube, TikTok, and Telegram.
Until now, distribution licenses could only be refused for films promoting pornography, violence, “non-traditional sexual relations,” or content falling under anti-terrorism and anti-extremism laws.
Lawyer Yevgeny Smirnov from the “First Department” project called the law a continuation of existing censorship practices, comparing it to the Soviet-era censorship agency Glavlit. He noted that “every second film could potentially be targeted.” Film critic Anton Dolin added that the law is designed to push distributors and creators into self-censorship: “Nobody knows what exactly counts as ‘traditional values.’ Potentially, any film could be banned.”
In recent years, Russian authorities have already revoked film licenses on questionable grounds. In July 2025, for instance, Eva Viktor’s “Sorry Baby” was pulled from release, despite the producers altering character details to avoid references to same-sex relationships.
The initiative was authored by State Duma deputies Sergey Boyarsky, Anton Gorelkin, Marina Kim, and Federation Council senators Andrey Klishas and Lilia Gumerova. The Ministry of Culture will now have the power to revoke or amend already-issued licenses. If a license is withdrawn, online streaming services will be required to remove the film within 24 hours.
The law also obliges social networks and video platforms to monitor content for “discrediting values.” Fifteen services were named, including Russian platforms VKontakte, Rutube, and Yappy, as well as YouTube, TikTok, and Telegram.
Until now, distribution licenses could only be refused for films promoting pornography, violence, “non-traditional sexual relations,” or content falling under anti-terrorism and anti-extremism laws.
Lawyer Yevgeny Smirnov from the “First Department” project called the law a continuation of existing censorship practices, comparing it to the Soviet-era censorship agency Glavlit. He noted that “every second film could potentially be targeted.” Film critic Anton Dolin added that the law is designed to push distributors and creators into self-censorship: “Nobody knows what exactly counts as ‘traditional values.’ Potentially, any film could be banned.”
In recent years, Russian authorities have already revoked film licenses on questionable grounds. In July 2025, for instance, Eva Viktor’s “Sorry Baby” was pulled from release, despite the producers altering character details to avoid references to same-sex relationships.