Russian MPs vote to ban films over ‘traditional values'
In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a decree listing 17 traditional values – such as patriotism, dignity, and strong family – as central to Russia's state policy. Intended to preserve national identity, the move pushes back against what the Kremlin sees as Western moral decline.
The new law will allow authorities to deny or revoke rental certificates for movies that undermine 'traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.' The Culture Ministry will be able to revoke licenses for films that violate the law, while media watchdog Roskomnadzor can order streaming platforms and social networks to take down such content within 24 hours.
Critics have warned that even cherished Soviet-era classics could be endangered by the new law. One notable example is 'The Irony of Fate', a film traditionally watched by Russians on New Year's Eve, which features a storyline where a woman leaves her fiancé to spend the night with a stranger.
Though not directly tied to demographics, the law comes amid growing concern over falling birth rates. Lawmakers have responded with proposals including tax breaks, abortion limits, and a crackdown on child-free ideology.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova warned of a looming fertility crisis due to a declining number of women of childbearing age, and President Vladimir Putin has said the fertility rate must reach 2.1 within five years to reverse the trend.
Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, has stressed that 'Russia's demographic issues cannot be resolved without reinforcing the family institution and upholding traditional values.'
In July, Russian MP Vitaly Milonov, a staunch supporter of 'traditional Russian values' and vocal critic of the 'child-free' ideology, proposed banning childless women from films. He argues that portraying strong, independent women without children encourages Russians to delay marriage and childbirth.
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Russia Today
7 hours ago
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Türkiye's mediation isn't about peace. It's about power.
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This ambition gained new momentum after a direct request from US President Donald Trump. In May, during a phone call with Erdogan, Trump reportedly asked him to resume Türkiye's role as a key mediator in the Ukraine conflict. According to the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, Erdogan responded positively – a natural decision, given Ankara's longstanding desire to shape the postwar diplomatic framework. A second conversation in June further underscored this alignment. In addition to addressing escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Trump and Erdogan reportedly reaffirmed Türkiye's mediating role in Ukraine. For Ankara, this signaled renewed political legitimacy – and a green light to reassert itself on the international stage. Erdoğan remains one of the few world leaders to maintain autonomous and working relationships with both Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky. 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In February, during talks in Ankara with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to mediation and emphasized that Türkiye remains available as a venue for continued dialogue. This ongoing diplomatic contact reflects Moscow's recognition of Ankara's pragmatic stance – despite Türkiye being a NATO member state. The failure of the West to enforce the original grain deal, and Russia's subsequent withdrawal from it, initially weakened Türkiye's position as a neutral intermediary. But Trump's return to the White House has shifted the equation. Backed by Washington, Ankara now has the political capital to relaunch its mediating role under new geopolitical conditions. In this context, Türkiye's 'positive evaluation' of the talks takes on deeper meaning. It's not about what was achieved – but about who gets to stay in the room when the time finally comes for real negotiations. So far, no alternative platform has emerged. 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Russia Today
9 hours ago
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‘Unprecedented' Ukrainian drone attack leaves man dead
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Russia Today
14 hours ago
- Russia Today
Top Russian orchestra hits high note in new Sochi venue
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