Movies in Russia to Undergo Assessment for Adherence to Traditional Morals
Russia is set to introduce a new film censorship policy starting March 1, 2026. The policy, which requires film distributors to obtain a certification label from the Ministry of Culture confirming compliance with traditional Russian values, was approved by the lower house of the Russian parliament (the Duma) in July 2025.
The evaluation process involves the Culture Ministry, which has the authority to refuse or cancel film licenses if the movie is found to harm or discredit "traditional Russian spiritual and moral values." In addition, Russia's media regulator can compel streaming services and social media platforms to remove such films within one day of notification.
The new policy builds on a 2022 presidential decree by Vladimir Putin, which identified 17 core traditional values aimed at safeguarding Russian national identity against perceived moral erosion from the West. While the full list is not explicitly cited, typical values emphasized include patriotism, dignity, and strong family ties.
Critics warn that the law's vague criteria could lead to broad censorship, including restricting access to popular Soviet-era films such as "The Irony of Fate," criticized for content considered misaligned with these values. This law is part of a wider Kremlin push to tightly control cultural and informational content in Russia and to restore an official censorship mechanism, which has been constitutionally prohibited since the USSR period but now enforced under new regulatory frameworks.
Key Agencies Involved
- Ministry of Culture
- Russia’s media regulator
Process
- Film distributors need a label certifying adherence to "traditional values" from the Ministry of Culture.
- The Ministry can deny or revoke this certificate.
Consequences
- Films without this certification cannot be legally distributed.
- Online platforms must remove non-compliant films within 24 hours of notification.
Underlying Framework
- A 2022 decree listing 17 core traditional Russian values, including patriotism, dignity, and family values, considered central to Russian identity.
Concerns
- Broad censorship potential, impacting both new films and classic Soviet-era works that might conflict with the moral criteria.
The news about this policy was reported by the "Khabarovsk Krai Today" news agency. The evaluation of films for compliance with traditional values will be conducted by experts from the Ministry of Culture in Russia. The policy includes online platforms for film distribution and may affect a wide range of films and online platforms. The new policy applies to films of any release year and is a new restriction on film distribution in Russia.
- Russia's new film censorship policy, set to commence in March 2026, involves the Ministry of Culture, responsible for evaluating films for compliance with traditional values, as well as Russia’s media regulator, which can compel online platforms to remove non-compliant films within 24 hours.
- The policy, part of a wider Kremlin push to control cultural and informational content, builds on a 2022 presidential decree that identifies 17 core traditional values, including patriotism, dignity, and family values, as central to Russian identity.
- Critics voicing concerns about the policy warn of potential broad censorship, including the possible restriction of access to classic Soviet-era films like "The Irony of Fate," due to content deemed misaligned with these values.
