The Culture War Is Heating Up In Russia

BBC: Putin wants government to "take charge" of rap music

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the government to "take charge" of rap music after a number of concerts were cancelled across the country.

Efforts to ban rap were "impossible" and so the state should play a greater role in controlling it, he said.

The Ministry of Culture would find the best way to "navigate" youth concerts, he added.

His comments come after Russian rapper Husky was arrested after several of his concerts were cancelled.

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WNU Editor: When I was growing up in the Soviet Union I was selling bootleg records and later cassette tapes to my Russian friends who wanted Western music. I was able to get it, and the authorities never bothered me because they knew that enforcing this type of censorship would fail. 30 years later .... Putin has forgotten history. Music censorship is coming back .... and here is an easy prediction, it is going to fail. In the age of the internet nothing can be suppressed for long, and this censorship is also going to make these groups even more popular in Russia.

More News On The Kremlin Wanting To Control Rap Music

Putin says rap should be controlled in Russia, not banned -- NBC/AP
Why Putin is learning to love rap -- Politico
Kremlin on collision course with Russian youth over concert bans and censorship -- The Independent
Russia may be having second thoughts about crackdown on rap -- Irish Times
Leonid Bershidsky: Russian rappers give up on Putin -- Kyiv Post