Moscow, May 6, 2014
Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a law that prohibits using of bad language in literature and art, in mass media products, at concerts, theatre performances and entertainment events as well as films in cinemas. The text of the law has been published on the legal information official internet-portal, reports ITAR-TASS.
The law provides for a penalty of fines for organizing "a public performance of literary, art or folk works, which contain obscene words, by holding a theatrical-entertainment, cultural-educational or entertainment event".
The document specifically bans using foul language "at films in cinemas", in theater performances, at the opening of exhibitions, concerts, shows and so on. An "independent commission of experts" will define the words and expressions which are not in line with the standards of the literary Russian language.
Any breach of this law will be punished by fines: from 2,000 to 2,500 rubles for citizens, from 4,000 to 5,000 rubles for officials, from 40,000 to 50,000 rubles for legal entities.
Furthermore, the law stipulates a ban on distribution certificates to films with obscene language. The amount of a fine producing films without a distribution certificate will be from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles. Further violations will be punished by fines ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles, or suspension of distribution for a period up to three months.
The law obliges producers to place the warning, "abusive language" on audiovisual productions and books, and such articles must be sold in a sealed packing.
These rules do not apply to productions issued before the law comes into effect.
