Court Prohibits Sharing of Five "Leningrad" Tracks for Teenage Audience
In a recent decision, the Vasileostrovsky District Court of St. Petersburg has banned the distribution of five songs by the Russian group "Leningrad" among minors. The songs, which have been a subject of controversy for their provocative style, were found to contain elements that could potentially harm the well-being of minors.
The banned songs are "Kandidat", "N...E", "CH.P", "OSPA", and "RUSSKIE". The court's decision states that these songs contain hidden persuasive techniques that could influence the consciousness and psyche of minors, though the exact phrases or wording that led to this conclusion were not specified.
One of the banned songs, "For Those Who Are With Us", is part of the album "MegaPolice" by AK-47, whose real name is Vitaly Gusyukhin. Interestingly, AK-47 is a member of the group "Leningrad", along with Guf (real name Alexei Dolmatov) and Nogu Svelo (real name Vasily Vakulenko).
The ban was initiated by Federation Council member Margarita Pavlova in 2024, who submitted a corresponding application to the prosecutor's office. The Ministry of Internal Affairs made the decision to ban the track, and the court also prohibited 10 internet pages hosting their lyrics.
However, as of mid-August 2025, these songs remain available on major streaming platforms such as Yandex Music, Spotify, and Apple Music. The court's ruling is significant because it explicitly cites alleged harm to minors' well-being as the basis for the ban.
The group "Leningrad", founded by Sergei Shnurov, is known for its bright and provocative style, which has often been a subject of controversy and checks by authorities. The songs potentially stimulate interest in themes that could violate the law, including incitement to violence and actions that threaten the health of children.
In a separate incident, the track "For Those Who Are With Us" was banned based on its content, which potentially violates laws related to narcotics. Roskomnadzor added the track to the Unified Registry of Banned Information in early August 2024, due to the presence of information about methods of producing and using narcotic substances.
The core context of this decision is the protection of minors from content deemed potentially harmful, underpinned by linguistic expertise and initiated by political oversight. This decision underscores the ongoing debate about the role of music and its impact on society, particularly on the younger generation.
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- Despite the court's ban, the controversial songs by Leningrad, including "For Those Who Are With Us," remain accessible on major streaming platforms like Yandex Music, Spotify, and Apple Music.
- The ban on "For Those Who Are With Us" was enforced due to its explicit content, which reportedly violates laws related to narcotics, making it a part of the Unified Registry of Banned Information.
