Khinshtein: RKN did not ask to cut scenes from “Sex and the City” and “Euphoria” because of LGBT propaganda

In the month since the signing of the law banning LGBT propaganda, Roskomnadzor has handed over to online cinemas claims against seven films that show signs of violating the law, said Alexander Khinshtein, head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy. He did not specify which films he was talking about. He claims that the department had no complaints about the series “Euphoria” and “Sex and the City”, from which several scenes were previously cut.

Mr. Khinshtein commented on the publication of the Telegram channel “Beware the News”, who reported that Amediateka cut about two hours of running time from the American series Euphoria, which contained scenes with LGBT characters and drugs. By data channel, Amediateka and Kinopoisk also removed references to LGBT people from the series Sex and the City. Alexander Khinshtein assures that Roskomnadzor had no complaints about these two series.

“The fact is that no one demanded that these online cinemas censor scenes from Sex and the City and the second season of Euphoria: this is the absolute initiative of Amediateka and Kinopoisk themselves. Moreover, Roskomnadzor has no claims to these fragments, and the law does not oblige to change, for example, the word “gay” to “boy” … Why did Amediateka and Kinopoisk engage in such “circumcision”? Perhaps it was an overinsurance on the principle of “make a fool pray to God.” Or maybe some provocative “happening”. I don’t know,” he wrote Telegram.

According to the deputy, the law prohibits not the very mention of LGBT, but its propaganda. He clarified that at the initial stage – at least in the first quarter of 2023 – there is a “preventive period”. This means that Roskomnadzor does not hold anyone accountable, but sends “specific, well-founded claims on specific fragments or works,” the head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy assured.

December 5, 2022 President Vladimir Putin signed law on the complete ban on LGBT propaganda in Russia. Previously, the ban acted on the promotion of non-traditional relationships among minors, then the law was decided to be extended to persons of any age. Fines were introduced: for individuals – up to 800 thousand rubles, for officials – up to 800 thousand rubles, for legal entities – up to 10 million rubles. This week regarding Popcorn Books excited case of LGBT propaganda after Alexander Khinshtein’s request.

Read more about the law in the material “Kommersant” “The Basic Law is in the bind”.

Laura Keffer