MOSCOW, Russia, September 21, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — While a leading American politician proposes a resolution declaring pornography a “public health crisis,” leaders in Russia are taking direct action against the industry.
The Russian government is banning two of the most popular porn sites in the world. PornHub and YouPorn will be blocked throughout the country.
Bans on 11 other pornographic sites were initiated last year in Russia after two court cases in which presiding judges ruled the sites distribute pornography and that pornography is detrimental to children's development.
The national media watchdog Roskomnadzor — the Russian equivalent of the Federal Communications Commission — has come under criticism from men wanting access to online porn. In response to last year's bans, Roskomnadzor suggested men “try and meet someone in real life.”
The moneymakers at PornHub mocked the ban, posting in response, “If we give you guys a PornHub Premium account, will you un-ban PornHub in Russia?”
The porn bans are the latest in a series of internet crackdowns in Russia since President Vladimir Putin returned to lead the country in 2012. Putin had publicly complained about pornography online, disgustedly describing the Internet as “half pornography.”
Putin has said, however, that while access to information must be unlimited, sites that promote terrorism, xenophobia, religious hatred, child pornography, drugs, and suicide should be blocked, according to existing laws against illegal content.
Lyudmyla Pugachova-Morgan is not a Putin supporter. As a Ukrainian, she opposes Putin's invasion of her country. Nevertheless, she applauds this move. “As a Christian, I am glad to hear that Russian government is trying to do some things against porn sites,” she told LifeSiteNews. “I hope that it can be worked out right way.”
Still, Pugachova-Morgan points out that the core issue for the country is the diminishing faith of Orthodox Christians. “Spirituality is going down” in Russia, she explained. “It is extremely hard when lies and poverty and local conflicts are ruining the culture.”
“I hope and pray for better, and I won't stop praying for the best future of our children.”
PornHub and YouPorn are both owned by MindGeek.