Russian state television censors joke about anti-extremism police

Comedian Danila Poperechny says the late night talk show “Vecherny Urgant” cut his joke about Russia’s anti-extremism police. In a tweet, the comic said he took the stage and explained to the crowd that he’d come on the show for two reasons: first, he likes the host, Ivan Urgant, and second “because when regional officers in the anti-extremism department see me on Channel One, for some reason they think I’m white-listed and they don’t fuck with me when I’m on tour.” This latter remark never aired for television audiences.

With more than 2.6 million subscribers on YouTube, Danila Poperechny is one of Russia’s most popular stand-up comedians.