Russia bans ‘foul language’ in the arts

A Russian ban on swearing in films, plays and books came into force on Tuesday.

It is a policy designed to appeal to conservatives but which President Vladimir Putin’s critics condemned as a further move against free speech.

Under the legislation that was passed in May, films containing “foul language” will be banned from wide release and books with swear words will have to be sold in sealed packages with obscenity warnings.

Theatres will not be allowed to stage productions containing obscenities according to the law, which imposes fines of up to $1,500 for each violation.

Al Jazeera’s Peter Sharp reports from Moscow.