A Moscow-based international court issued a fine amounting to 2 million rubles against TikTok for distributing four videos that depicted LGBT relationships. The case was reported by multiple outlets, including TASS, and the court’s action reflected enforcement under the second part of Article 13.41 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation. The central issue in the suit was the posting of four videos showing men kissing. Roskomnadzor inspectors examined the content and concluded that these clips could foster a positive view of same sex relationships among younger viewers.
TikTok did not remove the videos prior to the issuance of the administrative charge, and the platform’s representative subsequently asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the perceived violation was not significant. This decision underscores a broader enforcement regime in Russia that scrutinizes content through a lens of social influence and youth protection, and it has drawn attention to platform moderation practices on major video-sharing services operating within or targeting audiences in Russia and beyond.
In a separate ruling during the middle of August, Kinopoisk, an online film platform, was fined 1 million rubles for presenting films with LGBT content without the required age rating. The case illustrates ongoing regulatory expectations regarding age-appropriate labeling of material and how streaming and video platforms monitor and classify content for different audiences, including in markets outside Russia where similar age-verification standards exist.
Among the titles affected was Oliver Stone’s 2014 historical drama Alexander, which was flagged for not displaying the proper viewer guidance. The cast includes Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Rosario Dawson, Val Kilmer, Jared Leto and Anthony Hopkins. The incident highlights how global productions can be impacted by regional content rules and how distribution platforms must navigate filmography with varying licensing and labeling requirements across jurisdictions.
Commentary from public officials and lawmakers has occasionally linked the presence of LGBT-themed material to broader cultural policy discussions. In one notable instance, a former member of parliament voiced the view that certain widely circulating titles could be unsuitable for children given notions of LGBT representation. This ongoing dialogue reflects differing regulatory priorities between countries and the impact on international media platforms that operate in multiple legal environments.