14 июля 2007 Года
June 14, 2007. BLACK LIST OF “EXTREMIST MATERIALS” MADE PUBLIC
 For the first time in modern Russian history, an official black list of literature, films and even music believed to be spreading hatred has been published by the Russian government. From now on the list will be updated twice every year (in January and July) and circulated in a government newspaper. This action was preceded two days ago by the passage of a new bill on extremism by the Federation Council.
The newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta published the list of 14 materials in its Saturday edition. The government’s obligation to publish such a list was established by a presidential decree signed on May 5, 2006. According to the decree, a court approval is necessary for placing a material on the official “black list.”
“Russia’s citizens must understand that such materials are one of the root causes of extremism in our country, and extremism is a very dangerous enemy of stability and wellbeing,” commented Sergei Vasiliev, head of the Federal Registration Service (the state body responsible for forming the list). Vasiliev added that he hoped the list would not have to be expanded in the future.
Currently there are two articles in Russia’s criminal code concerning people who advocate radical solutions to ethnic conflicts. One of them makes calling people to extremist activity illegal, and the other one bans spreading hatred. Both allow for both a civil and a criminal punishment (i.e. imprisonment for up to five years).
The black list has been published just two days after the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, approved a new bill on extremism, which grants broader powers to law enforcement agencies and stiffens the penalties for those found guilty of extremist activities. 116 senators voted in favor of the bill, 2 voted against and 13 abstained.
Senator Vladimir Slutsker called many of the bill’s articles “superfluous.” He added that it would make wire and phone tapping legally much easier for the security organs, which could overload them with work (given their limited technical capabilities).
Senator Maxim Kavdzharadze commented: “We need a bill on extremism, but this one is still too early in the making. And I urge my colleagues to understand, as they vote today, that we are allowing third parties into our telephone conversations. If we reject this law, we will be doing ourselves a favor.”
Prior to becoming law, the bill will have to be signed by the President.
For a complete version of the black list, please consult this website’s Russian version.
Translated by Artem V. Zagorodnov
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