MOSCOW — When the cold war ended, the area formerly known as the Soviet Union underwent a number of major social and economic changes. Among those were the legal proliferation of pornography; something that conservative Russia politicians continue to wrestle with and producers claim they’re still not making a profit from.According to 38-year-old Loginov, an adult video producer who spoke with Moscow Times recently, “the farther away from Moscow, the better.”
Loginov would know, in addition to having Moscow police officers break down his door while he was filming in the area, he was convicted of illegally distributing pornography in 2004.The authorities went easy on him and handed him a one-year suspended sentence for the crime. Like all other Russian pornographers, Loginov has a full-time job in order to keep the wolf from his door. Having “just about broken even” financially, Loginov is able to use the classified ad newspaper he publishes weekly in order to find prospective performers.
Most Russian pornographers prefer to fly under the radar, selling their content directly to western companies. A few hope to break into their country’s porn market, which currently consists heavily of pirated videos from the United States and Europe. Vague pornography laws make it difficult for those who want to work legally to even know what that means.
Currently, the only provision in the Criminal Code related to pornography dates from 1997 and states that a conviction for producing or distributing “illegal” pornography can result in up to two years I prison. This suggests that there are legal avenues for production and distribution, although none are mentioned. Further complicating matters is the fact that the law never defines what pornography is. According to Russians trying to produce erotic content, they have no interest in filming scenes of necrophilia or bestiality. Anyone found producing or distributing accounts of pedophilia faces up to eight years behind bars.
In June, the nationalist Rodina party attempted to define pornography as “images – television and radio programs – whose primary content consists of a vulgar realistic portrayal of sexual relations and that are intended to spark lusty passion.” Judging by some Russian’s sensitivity, that could extend to commercials that promote products claiming to enhance a person’s sexiness. “How can a Russian Orthodox person or a Muslim or a grandmother or grandfather explain to their grandchildren what ‘sexy’ means” Communist Deputy Nikolai Kondratyenko has asked. The Rodina bill was ultimately discarded.
Pavel Pozhigailo, the country’s number two culture official, has announced not only that a group dedicated to crush the spread of pornography has been formed but that he does not believe that adults should be allowed to purchase or watch erotic videos.
Sergie Pryanishnikov, called by some “The Russian Larry Flynt,” has been investigated a number of times, with one such case lasting six years and landing him in jail for two months before the matter was dropped. The 49-year-old Pryanishnikov is one of the few Russians running an adult business that comes anywhere near those found in the west. His work has been called “criminal” by one of Moscow’s most vocally anti-pornography activists, city Duma Deputy Lyudmila Stebenkova.
According to AdultReview.ru, only four Russian studios have managed to earn the country’s Federal Cultural Agency’s stamp of approval for their explicit works. Meanwhile, Loginov has registered more than 50 since 2003 and Pryanishnikov’s SP-Company has registered more than 100.
The secret to approval, according to some in the industry, is providing the culture ministry with a softcore version, then releasing a hardcore version for sale. Apparently in Moscow, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
