Digest of Russian media
Russia Introduces New Censorship Law and Even the Censors Are Complaining
August 1, 2025
Russian lawmakers have passed a new law introducing fines for those who search for “extremist content” online. The move has sparked concerns both from opposition figures and from pro-government voices, as the official list of what qualifies as “extremism” in Russia, compiled by the Ministry of Justice, includes over 5,000 items, most of which ordinary citizens are not even aware of.
For example, Meta, the company behind Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, is officially designated as an extremist organization, which makes online searches about those apps illegal. The same extremist label has been applied to the “LGBT movement.” However, the law offers no clear explanation of what specific content is prohibited. The slogan “Glory to Ukraine” has also been registered as extremist. Some books and songs are on the list, including a song featured in Alexei Balabanov’s film War, which is still allowed to be shown in Russia.
The list also includes oddly specific entries, such as: “a poster depicting a person resembling President Vladimir Putin with makeup on his face, including painted eyelashes and lips.”
A violation is punishable by an administrative fine ranging from RUB 3,000 to RUB 5,000, about $35-50.
Internet users are wondering how they are supposed to know which materials are considered extremist. Sergei Boyarsky, head of the Duma’s IT committee, posted a video on Telegram clarifying that “accidental exposure,” for example, hearing or seeing something unintentionally, will not be punished. However, “deliberate” searches are now punishable under the law.
“If it is [on the list], then indeed, deliberately searching for it, listening to it or using it will be considered a violation of the law. Accordingly, the sanctions outlined in the law will apply, specifically, a fine that will be imposed by a court if intent is proven,” Boyarsky said in the video.
Lawmakers insist the new law will not affect “ordinary users.” Maksut Shadayev, head of the Ministry of Digital Development, said during a Duma hearing that simply using social networks, even those labeled extremist, is not illegal. At the same time, accessing specific banned materials, such as books, movies and songs, is off limits.
“Users must know in advance that these materials are part of the register,” Shadayev said, as quoted by Interfax. “Only 5,500 items fall under administrative liability under this law.” He did not specify how a person is supposed to “know in advance,” but added that if a user has no intention of finding extremist content, they will not be punished.
Prominent Russian political analyst Mikhail Vinogradov pointed out that Shadayev is not in charge of law enforcement agencies and how they will enforce the law. Vinogradov also mentioned that the legal definition of extremist content in the law is broad enough to include almost anything.
“In current practice, a sincere confession of intent is considered sufficient evidence. And who knows what circumstances or nuances might lead a person to confess and get something off their chest,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.
Following media reports about the law, Russians started actively searching to find out what exactly could get them fined. According to the Telegram channel @mozhemobyasnit (“we can explain”), on the day the Federation Council approved the bill, the phrase “extremist materials” was searched over 80,000 times on Yandex, compared to just 200-300 searches a day usually. On Google, the query hit a popularity score of 100, the highest possible.
Investigative journalist Andrei Zakharov speculated that security agencies may use Russia’s System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM) to monitor web traffic. He also warned that phones could be searched at border crossings, during home raids or even random stops on the street.
“The last scenario is the most disturbing,” Zakharov wrote on his Telegram channel. “I sincerely hope it will be a rare exception rather than the norm.”
The law has also stirred debate among typically loyal Kremlin supporters. One of the most vocal critics is Yekaterina Mizulina, founder of the so-called Safe Internet League, which is known for reporting internet users, artists and others whose online activity deviates from the Kremlin’s agenda to the security services. She noted that her own work may now fall under the ban, as reporting illegal content requires first locating it.
“The most interesting thing is that, according to the bill, even the activities of Interior Ministry officials monitoring such information could also be deemed illegal. And any person who reports the discovery of such materials to law enforcement, for example, about Columbine groups, also risks getting fined,” Mizulina wrote on her Telegram channel.
Margarita Simonyan, the head of the infamous Russia Today, posed a similar question, surprising her followers by opposing the government initiative. She wrote on her Telegram channel, “how are we supposed to investigate and shame all the different extremist organizations like the Anti-Corruption Foundation, if we are banned from even reading them?”
For example, Meta, the company behind Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, is officially designated as an extremist organization, which makes online searches about those apps illegal. The same extremist label has been applied to the “LGBT movement.” However, the law offers no clear explanation of what specific content is prohibited. The slogan “Glory to Ukraine” has also been registered as extremist. Some books and songs are on the list, including a song featured in Alexei Balabanov’s film War, which is still allowed to be shown in Russia.
The list also includes oddly specific entries, such as: “a poster depicting a person resembling President Vladimir Putin with makeup on his face, including painted eyelashes and lips.”
A violation is punishable by an administrative fine ranging from RUB 3,000 to RUB 5,000, about $35-50.
Internet users are wondering how they are supposed to know which materials are considered extremist. Sergei Boyarsky, head of the Duma’s IT committee, posted a video on Telegram clarifying that “accidental exposure,” for example, hearing or seeing something unintentionally, will not be punished. However, “deliberate” searches are now punishable under the law.
“If it is [on the list], then indeed, deliberately searching for it, listening to it or using it will be considered a violation of the law. Accordingly, the sanctions outlined in the law will apply, specifically, a fine that will be imposed by a court if intent is proven,” Boyarsky said in the video.
Lawmakers insist the new law will not affect “ordinary users.” Maksut Shadayev, head of the Ministry of Digital Development, said during a Duma hearing that simply using social networks, even those labeled extremist, is not illegal. At the same time, accessing specific banned materials, such as books, movies and songs, is off limits.
“Users must know in advance that these materials are part of the register,” Shadayev said, as quoted by Interfax. “Only 5,500 items fall under administrative liability under this law.” He did not specify how a person is supposed to “know in advance,” but added that if a user has no intention of finding extremist content, they will not be punished.
Prominent Russian political analyst Mikhail Vinogradov pointed out that Shadayev is not in charge of law enforcement agencies and how they will enforce the law. Vinogradov also mentioned that the legal definition of extremist content in the law is broad enough to include almost anything.
“In current practice, a sincere confession of intent is considered sufficient evidence. And who knows what circumstances or nuances might lead a person to confess and get something off their chest,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.
Following media reports about the law, Russians started actively searching to find out what exactly could get them fined. According to the Telegram channel @mozhemobyasnit (“we can explain”), on the day the Federation Council approved the bill, the phrase “extremist materials” was searched over 80,000 times on Yandex, compared to just 200-300 searches a day usually. On Google, the query hit a popularity score of 100, the highest possible.
Investigative journalist Andrei Zakharov speculated that security agencies may use Russia’s System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM) to monitor web traffic. He also warned that phones could be searched at border crossings, during home raids or even random stops on the street.
“The last scenario is the most disturbing,” Zakharov wrote on his Telegram channel. “I sincerely hope it will be a rare exception rather than the norm.”
The law has also stirred debate among typically loyal Kremlin supporters. One of the most vocal critics is Yekaterina Mizulina, founder of the so-called Safe Internet League, which is known for reporting internet users, artists and others whose online activity deviates from the Kremlin’s agenda to the security services. She noted that her own work may now fall under the ban, as reporting illegal content requires first locating it.
“The most interesting thing is that, according to the bill, even the activities of Interior Ministry officials monitoring such information could also be deemed illegal. And any person who reports the discovery of such materials to law enforcement, for example, about Columbine groups, also risks getting fined,” Mizulina wrote on her Telegram channel.
Margarita Simonyan, the head of the infamous Russia Today, posed a similar question, surprising her followers by opposing the government initiative. She wrote on her Telegram channel, “how are we supposed to investigate and shame all the different extremist organizations like the Anti-Corruption Foundation, if we are banned from even reading them?”
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Sofia Sorochinskaia
Russia.Post
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