A new State Duma working group will present proposals for a ban on receiving income in Russia for cultural figures and foreign agents who have left the country. This was announced in his telegram channel by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy, who became a member of it (at the time of publication of the material, publication in the deputy’s telegram channel was removed) .
As Tolstoy noted, the group will be led by Irina Yarovaya, deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament. According to him, the task of the working group is “to find a fair solution in this extremely thin and delicate area, although the State Duma receives calls with quite radical proposals from our constituents”.
“Because it’s not good to make money in a country you hate. And even more so with regard to the proven facts of support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces from funds earned in Russia, ”emphasized the Vice President.
In January, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Culture Elena Yampolskaya suggested cut off all Russian funding to artists performing “against Russia”. Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin educated Culture Committee to prepare proposals for legislation concerning deceased artists who “insult their country” but continue to receive income there.
Around mid-February was planned the first closed-format meeting of the State Duma working group, which is responsible for initiatives concerning artists who left Russia with an “anti-Russian position”.
After the start of the military conflict in Ukraine, some cultural figures left Russia, condemning the actions of the Russian authorities. Among them are Andrey Makarevich*, Maxim Galkin*, Alisher Morgenstern*, Oksimiron (Miron Fedorov*) and others. Against this background, Russian radio stations, in particular “Russian Radio”, stopped broadcasting songs by artists taking an anti-war stance. Additionally, in the summer of 2022, Fontanka published an unofficial list of musical artists who, according to the publication, are not allowed to perform in Russia.
In turn, Russian officials have repeatedly proposed initiatives related to the restrictions imposed on citizens who have left the country. In particular, in December, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel that citizens who left Russia, who criticize the leadership of the state and wish “defeat in the war for their homeland”, should not be allowed to return to the country “until the end of their days”. Moreover, these Russians must be deprived of income, the politician stressed.
*registered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the register of foreign agents
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