A group of prestigious Russian film directors asked Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in an open letter Wednesday to amend a 2014 law prohibiting profanity in works of art, state news agency TASS reported.
The letter, signed by six directors including Fyodor Bondarchuk and Nikita Mikhalkov, both of whom are strong supporters of President Vladimir Putin, calls for films with foul language to be granted distribution licenses with an "18+" age restriction, TASS reported.
"Obscene language itself is part of intangible cultural heritage," the letter was quoted by TASS as saying. "The current ban is unnecessary and greatly impoverishes possibilities for artistic realization."
Critically acclaimed Russian film "Leviathan" will also be bound by the controversial law, which came into effect last July. A profanity-free version of the film premieres in Russian theaters next month.
The letter was sent one day after Russia's Culture Ministry shelved its plans to ban films deemed harmful to Russia's "national unity," following widespread criticism.
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