Media reports Harry Potter possibly to get prohibited in Russia
(MENAFN) Russia’s new legislation against the promotion of a "childfree" ideology may lead to the potential banning of popular films and TV shows like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, according to the Parliamentary Newspaper. The law, signed by President Vladimir Putin last year, bans the promotion of childlessness and aims to prevent media, films, advertisements, and online content that encourage rejecting parenthood. Content that violates these rules could be blocked, and those responsible for publishing such material may face fines up to 400,000 rubles ($5,000) for individuals, and up to 5 million rubles ($62,000) for organizations or officials.
The Ministry of Culture and the media watchdog Roskomnadzor have introduced guidelines defining what content may be in violation of the law. These rules are set to come into effect in September. According to the Parliamentary Newspaper, prohibited content may include media that "encourages or justifies refusing to have children," depicts "a negative image" of pregnancy and parenthood, or promotes "distorted ideas" about the advantages of childlessness.
The outlet speculated that several popular films and TV series could fall under these guidelines if examined closely for depictions of childfree ideologies. For example, the Harry Potter franchise might be targeted due to Professor McGonagall, a character who doesn’t have children in the films. Similarly, Game of Thrones could face scrutiny because the character Brienne chooses to become a knight instead of a mother. Sex and the City and House of Cards could also be at risk due to characters like Samantha and Claire, who exhibit childfree tendencies in their storylines.
Despite these concerns, Roskomnadzor officials clarified that content would be assessed on a case-by-case basis and that no such reviews had been conducted yet. The regulator also issued a statement saying there are no plans to ban Harry Potter or Game of Thrones based on childfree content. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture noted that these films and series had already lost distribution certificates due to the departure of their copyright holders from Russia, adding that the ministry does not have the authority to block internet content.
While the Harry Potter franchise has been hugely popular in Russia, generating millions in book sales and box office revenue, its films and books have not been available in the country since 2022 when most Western media companies pulled their licenses amid the Ukraine conflict
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