Since 2022, musical censorship in Russia has shifted from targeted bans to a systemic crackdown, resulting in the removal of thousands of songs and music videos from domestic streaming platforms
Mechanisms of enforcement
ipfs://QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6ucoTraditional Values & Drugs: Since March 2024, new laws strictly prohibit any mention or depiction of drugs or anything discrediting "traditional values" . banned uncensored uncut music videos russia verified
To understand what “banned uncensored uncut” really means in the Russian context, you must first understand the legal framework. Since 2022, three specific laws have decimated the music video landscape:
"Summer Really Hurt Us" (Alma): The owner of TNT Music was fined 1 million rubles for airing this Finnish singer's video, which was deemed to contain LGBTQ+ propaganda. Since 2022, musical censorship in Russia has shifted
"Russian Popular Music in the Times of Military Censorship" (2024/2026): This paper analyzes how Russia transitioned from sporadic censorship to systemic control, documenting the use of "stop lists" for bands like Aquarium and DDT. It argues that modern tactics are updated versions of Soviet-era restrictions.
While Russia has historically blocked specific songs or albums for "LGBT propaganda" or "drug references," the latest wave of restrictions is unprecedented. Roskomnadzor, the country’s media watchdog, is now demanding streaming platforms remove full, complete music videos—not just the audio tracks. Install the Brave browser or the IPFS Companion extension
Accessing banned uncensored uncut music videos in Russia is illegal inside the Russian Federation. Penalties range from fines (up to 5 million rubles) to 15 days detention for "demonstrating extremist symbols."