Censorship has evolved from targeting specific videos to blacklisting entire artists. Russia: Censorship of Younger Generation's Music
Several high-profile cases have defined the landscape of . These are the directors and musicians who pushed the envelope so far that their work was wiped from domestic streaming services.
The Sound of Silence: Banned, Uncensored, and Uncut Music Videos in Russia Banned- Uncensored Uncut Music Videos Russia
Satirizing the government or questioning state policies is the fastest way for a music video to face restrictions.
: Because original versions often sound like "white noise" after heavy editing, fans have increasingly turned to pirated versions or older MP3 technology to access uncensored tracks. Censorship has evolved from targeting specific videos to
The "uncensored" version of their track "Сказка" (Fairy Tale) exists only on torrent trackers and foreign servers. The banned footage includes explicit choreography simulating asphyxiation and a raw, unedited monologue about the 2021 protests. When asked why they don't cut the videos, IC3PEAK responded: "Censorship is a cut on the body of art. We only show the whole body."
: Since 2022, "discrediting the armed forces" has become a common justification for banning performances and removing videos. High-Profile Banned and Censored Videos The Sound of Silence: Banned, Uncensored, and Uncut
Originally enacted in 2013 and heavily expanded in 2022, these laws prohibit the promotion of "non-traditional sexual relations" across all media, including internet videos, films, and music. Visual representation of LGBTQ+ themes, symbols, or relationships is one of the most frequent catalysts for a video to be pulled from Russian streaming platforms or hit with massive fines. 2. Extremism and Discreditation
Many contemporary pop and indie artists have had to scrub music videos of any ambiguous or non-traditional romantic themes to avoid massive fines or platform bans. 3. Graphic Violence, Substance Use, and Profanity
A Moscow court ruled four of their protest videos "extremist," including Putin Has Pissed Himself and Death to Prison, Freedom to Protest . As of 2025, users can be fined up to 5,000 rubles simply for intentionally searching for these videos online.