Ukraine breaks ties with Russia by regulating Russian art. According to a researcher at the Foreign Policy Institute, the actions will turn against Ukraine, as Putin may use the new laws as a weapon of his propaganda.
Ukraine intends to restrict (switch to another service)distribution and import of Russian literature and music. The country’s parliament decided by a large majority on 19 June.
The import of books printed in Russia, Belarus and the Occupied Separatist Territories is completely banned. In addition, music made by Russian artists is no longer allowed to be performed in public.
However, the law does not apply to Russian musicians and writers who lived before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 or renounced their Russian citizenship during the collapse.
According to the Ukrainian administration, the restrictions are intended to protect Ukraine from Russian propaganda and sever ties with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky laws still need to be passed.
Researcher: new restrictions are useless
Ukrainian television producer Ihor Kondratjuk said Deutsche Wellen in an interview (you move to another service)that the laws are as important to Ukraine’s defense as warfare on the front lines. According to him, Russian artists should not be welcome in Ukraine until the intervals return to Russia as friendly.
Senior researcher at the Foreign Policy Institute Ryhor Nizhnikau disagrees.
– The laws are populist, Nizhnikau tells in a telephone interview.
According to him, they will not help Ukraine in the propaganda fight against Russia. Restrictions strike, above all, Russian writers and musicians who are not pleased with the Russian president Vladimir Putin administration.
The import of Russian works that favor Ukraine can still be exempted if the book is printed outside Russia. In practice, however, obtaining a permit would be a slow process, and it is still unclear how permits will be granted.
According to Nizhnikau, the Ukrainian regime is taking advantage of the anti-Russian sentiment caused by the Russian offensive war. Citizens’ support for laws restricting Russian art is easy to gain, even if the implementation and implications of the laws have not been properly considered.
The laws also divert attention from major administrative challenges, such as the development of the rule of law in a corrupt Ukraine applying for membership of the European Union.
Restrictions can turn against themselves
The restriction of Russian art is part of Ukraine’s broader efforts to sever ties with Russia.
Ukrainian administration according to (you switch to another service) the severance of ties is necessary to defend Ukrainian identity, as Russia has for centuries oppressed Ukrainians and suppressed their identity.
For example, in classical Russian literature, Ukrainians have often been described as “less-Russian” and part of the Russian Empire. It has shaped Russians’ perceptions of Ukraine and contributes to the success of Putin’s propaganda, says Professor of Russian Language and Culture at the University of Tampere Sanna Turoma by text message to .
Nizhnikau fears that the actions will turn against Ukraine.
– The Ukrainian administration has not oppressed the Russians or Russian speakers, but now Putin can use these laws as a weapon of his propaganda.
German Information Office DPA correct (switch to another service) as early as last week, false claims that Russian books would start burning in Ukraine.
Ukrainians resistant to propaganda
A large proportion of Ukrainians still use Russian in their daily lives, and contemporary and classical Russian music, for example, is listened to extensively.
According to Nizhnikau, that does not mean that Ukrainians are receptive to Russian propaganda. Rather, they voluntarily reject artists who are in favor of Putin’s war of aggression.
– No Ukrainian front-line soldier sees a contradiction between listening to Russian rap music and defending Ukraine, for example.
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