Russia Drafts Anti-Porn Law

MOSCOW - Interfax reports that Russia's Culture Ministry has drafted a bill to restrict the circulation of erotic and pornographic materials.

The proposed law would limit the sale of such materials to "rigorously defined" areas, and prohibit the publication of erotic images on magazine covers and other printed media.

According to Interfax, which saw the draft, the new law would specifically define "pornography," "erotica" and other such terms.

The draft also proposes special licensing for both the production and sale of erotic materials, as well as for events with erotic elements.

This follows a draft by the Russian Parliament to introduce fines of up to 1,000 rubles for reading erotic materials in public.

Debate about the new draft will likely be "most heated," said United Russia party member Robert Shlegel.