The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation has rejected claims that a draft law would compel licensing for foreign films. This clarification comes as officials push back against media narratives that suggested a forthcoming mandatory licensing regime for foreign cinema. (Source: TASS)
The confusion arose after reports stated that Deputy Minister Alla Manilova had signaled the preparation of legislation to introduce compulsory licenses for foreign film productions. The coverage claimed these remarks were tied to discussions during the State Duma’s consideration of a broader measure aimed at restricting sound and video recording of films or their individual scenes in cinemas. The ministry notes that while discussions about compulsory licensing have indeed occurred, they have not translated into a concrete proposal ready for drafting any bill at this stage. (Source: TASS)
In its official briefing, the ministry emphasized that Manilova did acknowledge the existence of ongoing debates on the topic and indicated that a dedicated unit within the ministry was examining the issue. The spokesperson underscored that no decision had been reached and no legislative text had been prepared for submission. When a formal stance is established, the ministry will be prepared to proceed with a relevant draft if that path is chosen. Until then, there is no active process to develop such legislation. (Source: TASS)
Separately, a separate misinterpretation circulated regarding another ministry action. It was reported that the same ministry had approved a request from the museums department and foreign relations sector, which allegedly involved sending a formal inquiry to the director of the Tretyakov Gallery. The aim was to obtain a report assessing whether the gallery’s permanent and special exhibitions align with spiritual and moral values. Officials clarified that this matter pertained to an issue of internal oversight and visitor concerns, and no directive to draft or implement a new policy was issued. (Source: TASS)