Draft bill criminalises the distortion of Russian history in films and books

A member of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party has put forward a bill criminalising the distortion of Russian history in books, film and video games. In an interview with daily newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Oleg Savchenko, a member of United Russia’s Committee of Education and Science, said: “If a film director makes a feature film based on historical events but adds in fanciful details, then he should explain to the audience in advance that his film is not related to historical facts. Otherwise it could be seen as deliberate provocation.” He added that the “spreading of false information online about events of the past should be punished without exception”.

Another political party, Fair Russia, has also given its backing to legislation that promotes patriotism. Oleg Mikheyev has prepared a bill which if passed will see citizens liable for spreading false information which “detracts from the merits of those killed in the defence of the Fatherland, the authority of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation, or their armed forces”.

Savchenko’s bill also seeks to foster patriotism with mandatory school trips to important Russian historical sites paid for by each district’s municipal budget. He has further called for compulsory school lessons for children on patriotic themes. He said: “At least once a week in schools, classes in political propaganda should be conducted. This will help the younger generation to properly evaluate and understand current events.”

Such calls hark back to the Soviet Union when political propaganda was used extensively by the state to shape citizens’ understanding of current events, and national and international affairs.