Russia's state media watchdog has denied ordering state television to censor war-related words after several entertainment channels censored the lyrics “war” and “peace” in recent broadcasts, state media reported Monday.
Vadim Subbotin, deputy head of the Roskomnadzor regulator, maintained that the agency does not keep a list of banned words apart from explicit language, according to the TASS news agency.
Commenting on the censored lyrics on Gazprom Media-owned TNT and Media 1-owned Muz TV’s song and dance shows, Subbotin suggested the channels acted on their own.
“Roskomnadzor has nothing to do with this,” he was quoted as saying.
“We sometimes conduct pre-emptive measures, but not in this case,” Subbotin added.
TNT and Muz TV declined to comment.
The channels’ apparent self-censorship comes as Russian courts routinely fine and jail critics of the country’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
