Vladimir Putin prohibits the use of vulgar language in the media, books, during public events

On Monday, 5 May, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a law prohibiting the use of vulgar language in mass media, films, theater plays, shows, concerts, books and art. The law will enter into force on 1 June 2014.

The law requires the media and publishers to place warnings if materials contain obscene language, and such products will have to be sold in sealed packages, according to ITAR-TASS.

The law signed by the Russian president also prohibits the use of obscene language during public events.

According to the regulatory act, failure to comply with the interdiction will be penalized with fines amounting to 2,000–2,500 rubles (40–50 euros) for individuals, 4,000–4,500 rubles (80–90 euros) for public officials, and up to 40,000–50,000 rubles (800–1,000 euros) for legal entities (information published by www.vesti.ru).

Experts in linguistics will be the ones to decide in each case on whether the words or phrases used were vulgar and whether a penalty shall be applied.

At the end of last year, the Rosbalt news agency had its license withdrawn for using vulgar language. Also, this April, the ultranationalist MP Vladimir Zhirinovsky offended a pregnant journalist.

According to sociologists, 66% of employees in Russia actively use indecent language.

 
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