Support The Moscow Times!

Ukraine Passes Law Banning Broadcast of Certain Russian Films

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has passed a law prohibiting Russian films from being shown in Ukraine, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday, citing the official website of the Ukrainian parliament.

Ukrainian MPs voted in favor of the law at a meeting on March 29.

“On April 20, [the law] returned signed by the president. The dates and conditions are being processed on the law ‘on the introduction of changes to Ukrainian law’ and ‘on cinematography (related to films of the state aggressor),’” a statement on the site said, Interfax reported.

The law prohibits the broadcasting of films, made or first aired in Russia after Jan. 1 2014, one month before the Ukrainian revolution that led to large-scale violence and unrest in the country.

The law in particular relates to fiction films, TV programs and series but MPs extended the ban to the broadcasting of films made by Russian officials, which aim to promote uniformed services or propaganda in films made or aired after Jan. 1, 2014.

Read more