Russian platforms, courts, and schools increase censorship and patriotic messaging

Russian streaming platforms, judicial authorities, and educational institutions are expanding content restrictions and state-aligned messaging, according to recent media reports.

An investigation by Mediazona, amplified by The Insider, revealed that online platform Amediateka cut over 75 hours of footage from 200 foreign series. Censorship affected nearly half of the service's imported titles, removing roughly 7,300 scenes depicting LGBT topics, drug use, suicide, and incest. In some instances, entire subplots were excised.

Meanwhile, Verstka reported that a Russian court banned the hockey romance novel Heated Rivalry, citing legal prohibitions against promoting non-traditional sexual relationships.

In public education, NEXTA highlighted supplementary materials introduced in Novosibirsk schools that promote patriotic duty, present participation in the war against Ukraine as honorable, and denounce Western cultural values.

Sources: Mediazona, NEXTA, The Insider, Verstka.