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| Russia considers ban on Armando Iannucci's film The Death of Stalin | Russia considers ban on Armando Iannucci's film The Death of Stalin |
| (14 days later) | |
| Russian authorities are considering a ban on a black comedy about the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin’s death over fears that the film could lead to violent protests, a high-ranking adviser to the culture ministry has said. | Russian authorities are considering a ban on a black comedy about the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin’s death over fears that the film could lead to violent protests, a high-ranking adviser to the culture ministry has said. |
| Pavel Pozhigailo said The Death of Stalin, directed by Armando Iannucci – the man behind the political satires Veep and The Thick Of It – was a “planned provocation” aimed at angering Russia’s communists. | Pavel Pozhigailo said The Death of Stalin, directed by Armando Iannucci – the man behind the political satires Veep and The Thick Of It – was a “planned provocation” aimed at angering Russia’s communists. |
| He speculated that the British-French production could be part of a western plot to destabilise Russia by causing rifts in society. Pozhigailo, a senior official with the state-appointed public chamber, said the culture ministry would refuse to allow the film to be screened in Russia if officials decided it had the potential to “incite hatred”. | He speculated that the British-French production could be part of a western plot to destabilise Russia by causing rifts in society. Pozhigailo, a senior official with the state-appointed public chamber, said the culture ministry would refuse to allow the film to be screened in Russia if officials decided it had the potential to “incite hatred”. |
| Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said he trusted the culture ministry would act responsibly when deciding whether to grant The Death of Stalin a distribution licence. | Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said he trusted the culture ministry would act responsibly when deciding whether to grant The Death of Stalin a distribution licence. |
| The film’s satirical plot revolves around the Kremlin in-fighting that followed Stalin’s death from a stroke in 1953. | The film’s satirical plot revolves around the Kremlin in-fighting that followed Stalin’s death from a stroke in 1953. |
| Due for release in Europe and North America next month, it stars Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev, Stalin’s successor, and Michael Palin as Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet diplomat. | Due for release in Europe and North America next month, it stars Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev, Stalin’s successor, and Michael Palin as Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet diplomat. |
| Russia’s Communist party, the second largest party in parliament, has previously called the film “revolting”. | Russia’s Communist party, the second largest party in parliament, has previously called the film “revolting”. |
| Alexander Yushchenko, a spokesman for the party, said the film, which is based on a graphic novel of the same name, was an attempt to spark discontent. | Alexander Yushchenko, a spokesman for the party, said the film, which is based on a graphic novel of the same name, was an attempt to spark discontent. |
| Vzglyad, a pro-Kremlin newspaper, called the film “a nasty send-up by outsiders who know nothing of our history … Should it be screened in Russia? Of course not.” | Vzglyad, a pro-Kremlin newspaper, called the film “a nasty send-up by outsiders who know nothing of our history … Should it be screened in Russia? Of course not.” |
| Stalin’s popularity has risen in Russia in recent years, amid the Kremlin’s confrontation with the west over Ukraine and Syria. In June, the Soviet tyrant topped a poll carried out by the Moscow-based Levada Centre to find “the most outstanding person” in world history. | Stalin’s popularity has risen in Russia in recent years, amid the Kremlin’s confrontation with the west over Ukraine and Syria. In June, the Soviet tyrant topped a poll carried out by the Moscow-based Levada Centre to find “the most outstanding person” in world history. |
| The president, Vladimir Putin, took joint second place with Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s 19th-century national poet. | The president, Vladimir Putin, took joint second place with Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s 19th-century national poet. |
| The Death of Stalin is the second film about a historical figure to stir up controversy in Russia in recent months. | The Death of Stalin is the second film about a historical figure to stir up controversy in Russia in recent months. |
| Matilda, about Russia’s last tsar, has provoked arson attacks across Russia by Orthodox Christian extremists who say it is “blasphemous” because it shows Nicholas II in erotic scenes. | Matilda, about Russia’s last tsar, has provoked arson attacks across Russia by Orthodox Christian extremists who say it is “blasphemous” because it shows Nicholas II in erotic scenes. |
| Nicholas II, who was murdered alongside his family by Communist revolutionaries in 1918, was canonised by the Russian Orthodox church after the collapse of the Soviet Union. | Nicholas II, who was murdered alongside his family by Communist revolutionaries in 1918, was canonised by the Russian Orthodox church after the collapse of the Soviet Union. |
| Natalya Poklonskaya, a prominent MP with Putin’s ruling party, said Matilda “offends the feelings of religious believers”, a criminal offence in Russia since 2013. | Natalya Poklonskaya, a prominent MP with Putin’s ruling party, said Matilda “offends the feelings of religious believers”, a criminal offence in Russia since 2013. |