The music video features scenes of BDSM aesthetics, non-binary models, and a specific sequence where the artist wears a balaclava reminiscent of the Pussy Riot protest style. The "uncut" version—which exists only on foreign servers—contains a 30-second sequence of two male dancers kissing in front of a Soviet memorial.
For the Russian musician, the release of an "uncut" video is no longer an artistic choice; it is a roll of the dice. The state possesses a broad arsenal to suppress content: the "Gay Propaganda" law, legislation against "discrediting the Russian army," and statutes regarding "extremism." These laws are deliberately vague, acting as a dragnet that can catch anything from a same-sex kiss to a lyric criticizing the war in Ukraine. banned uncensored uncut music videos russia
Videos deemed "extremist" can be banned entirely. Recently, new legislation made it illegal even to search online for content labeled as extremist by the government. The music video features scenes of BDSM aesthetics,
Banned for "LGBT propaganda" and "foreign agent material." The Video: The band fled Russia after the war began. Their uncut video features topless women with "No War" painted on their chests, a same-sex wedding officiated by a clown, and the band members destroying Russian passports. Why it’s banned: The uncensored version contains full-frontal nudity (blurred in the West, banned entirely in Russia) and a specific frame where the word "Putin" is spelled out with human faeces. The uncut difference: The uncut cut runs 7 minutes (the clean version is 4). It includes a 2-minute skit of a Russian oligarch crying as his yacht sinks. The state possesses a broad arsenal to suppress
For independent and underground artists, the choice is starker: produce videos that are deliberately abstract and apolitical, or face fines, blocked websites, and potential criminal charges under "administrative offenses."