Moscow court fines TV channel for playing music video containing ‘LGBT propaganda’
A Moscow court fined the company Red Media one million rubles (around $11,300) for playing a music video for the song “City” by the group Tantsy Minus, which allegedly contains “LGBT propaganda.”
Independent news outlet Mediazona reported that the company was fined in mid-December. Now, the court website has published a ruling with the details of the case, reports independent outlet Verstka.
According to the case, the complaint was filed due to a 10-second clip where two women are shown kissing on the streets of St. Petersburg. The Red Media company received complaints because the clip was shown on its channel Lya-Minor TV, with a label that said “12+”.
The company was fined by the Main Radio Frequency Center, which is subordinate to Russia’s federal censor Roskomnadzor.
The court’s ruling states that the Main Radio Frequency Center uses a “kissing classification” system. It allegedly categorizes kisses into “social and sensual kisses,” which are differentiated “depending on the types of feelings behind the kisses.” As Mediazona notes, this classification has been used in several other similar “LGBT propaganda” cases.
A representative for Red Media denied the accusation. He said that the clip “promotes love for Russia and its cities — St. Petersburg and Moscow.”
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