Putin Signs Law Banning Curse Words in Arts and Media

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday that will ban swearing in films, music and public performances.

Explicit books and CDs will have to be sold in sealed packages with a warning that reads “contains obscene language,” CNN reports.

The law will levy fines as high as $1,400 against organizations and $70 against individual offenders. Repeat offenders could face steeper fines and a 3-month suspension of business.

A panel of obscenity experts will define the finer points of the law, deciding which words could damage the Kremlin’s stated goal of “protecting and developing language culture.”

[CNN]