A leftist Russian MP has submitted a bill introducing fines for the
distribution of computer games that either allow playing as Nazis or
require controversial action by those playing as Russians.Oleg Mikheyev of the Fair Russia parliamentary party told the
Interfax news agency he wanted to punish those who, in his
opinion, spread false information and diminish the achievements
of the dead defenders of the Fatherland, and those who undermine
the authority of the Russian Federation, the Soviet Union, the
Russian Empire and their military forces.
The lawmaker said the
prepared amendments concern the Federal Law on Information,
Information technology and Information Protection and this means
that the restrictions could be applied to computer games.
The sanctions provided by the current version of Mikheyev’s bill
include fines from 3000 rubles (about $85) for individuals to
between 100,000 and 500,000 rubles ($2,700-$13,800) for
businesses.
The press release distributed by Fair Russia especially mentioned
three games – “Soldiers: Heroes of WWII” that allows the players
to choose the Nazi side,“Company of Heroes” where Soviet
characters have to commit war crimes against civilians and the
“Maidan” online strategy based on the recent violent riots in
Kiev, Ukraine.
Mikheyev said the Ukrainian-made game “Soldiers: Heroes of WWII”
was the only game of its type which could be played for the Third
Reich. He emphasized that this option was not available in
US-made computer games and added that the use of electronic games
for propaganda seemed a part of a larger plan.
“The Neo-Nazi coup in Ukraine and the events that followed it
demonstrate the urgent need for tougher punishment for crimes
connected with indirect propaganda and rehabilitation of Nazism.
Such propaganda can be done through innocent-looking things such
as computer games but its final objective can be the discrediting
of Russia’s history and current status, and forming a negative
image of our country both for foreigners and for our
compatriots,” the politician said in a press interview.
Mikheyev already suggested tougher regulation for computer
games in February this year. Then he blamed a shooting and
hostage-taking incident in a Moscow school on the teenagers’
fondness with virtual reality. To prevent such events in future
Mikheyev drafted a bill that would forbid those who are underage
to purchase “shooter” computer games (and all “potentially
hazardous computer programs”) and even to frequent stores
where such games are sold.
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