Russian streaming platform cuts thousands of scenes to comply with censorship rules

An investigation by Mediazona revealed that Russian streaming service Amediateka has edited nearly half of its foreign television series to comply with domestic censorship laws. More than 7,300 fragments totaling over 75 hours were removed across roughly 200 shows, targeting references to non-traditional sexual relationships, substance abuse, suicide, and incest. In some cases, major narrative lines were excised completely.

In a related development, a Russian court banned the romance novel Heated Rivalry over its portrayal of a relationship between two male hockey players, citing prohibitions on non-traditional relationships. Meanwhile, schools in Novosibirsk received supplementary textbooks that frame military service in Ukraine as an honorable duty and criticize Western cultural influences.

Sources: Mediazona, NEXTA, The Insider, Verstka.