Boycott Russian Films () is a Ukrainian civic campaign that supports a boycott of Russian films and television series. It is a part of a broader boycott campaign called "Do not buy Russian goods!" started by the Ukrainian social movement Vidsich.
Causes The campaign arose as a reaction to the occupation, military actions and mercenaries by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in 2014. The dominance of Russian TV on the Ukrainian television, as well as the anti-Ukrainian sentiment and anti-Ukrainian propaganda, the praising of Russian security forces and secret police, all led to the boycott of the Russian TV and films movement.Активісти започаткували ініціативу «Бойкот російського кіно» . Mediasapiens. 22 September 2014
Goal The goal of the activists is to significantly limit Russian content shown on Ukrainian television and in movie theaters of Ukraine.В Україні оголошено «Бойкот російського кіно» . Zaxid.net. 22 September 2014Під АП зібралися "зомбі", вимагають мозок Пореченкова і Охлобистіна [Фото] . Channel "24". 22 December 2014
Prerequisites In March 2014, the statement was publicized, in which many Russian artists, including those associated with the film industry, with their signatures, expressed support for the Russian president Vladimir Putin, in particular for the annexation of the Crimea and military actions in eastern Ukraine.The letter in support of Putin's policy in the Crimea signed more than 100 cultural figures. Russian News. 13 March 2014
In March 2014, with the restoration of the campaign "Do not buy Russian goods!", civic activists together with some politicians reached out to the public for a boycott of Russian TV series and overall television.У соцмережах оголосили бойкот російським товарам та серіалам . Galnet.org. 3 March 2014
The first notable case of the boycott of the Russian cinema was announced on 11 April 2014 when some movie theaters in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa announced that they will no longer show Russian films.Некоторые кинотеатры Киева, Львова и Одессы объявили бойкот российской кинопродукции . ЦензорНЕТ. 11 April 2014
Course of events
In late August, 2014, activists of the Civil Movement "Vidsich" as a part of the campaign "Do not buy Russian goods!" launch a campaign to boycott Russian films and TV series. The Internet exploded with official pages and people massively started distributing messages, pictures, etc. urging not to watch Russian films.
On 27 August 2014, activists struck Ukrainian TV channel ICTV. The demand of the protesters was to remove Russian TV series off the air.Активисты нашли предателей среди украинских телеканалов . Vesti UA. 8 September 2014
On 4 September 2014 at the State Agency of Ukraine for Cinema in Kyiv, activists held a theatrical protest "Will not let vata in our homes" ("vata" (, , ) originated from the word "vatnik," a term coined in 2011 to describe jingoistic supporters of the Russian government), during which they showed a disapproval of the dominance of Russian TV products on Ukrainian television. Young protesters demanded to establish a strict control over the content of Russian films and clean Ukrainian media space of the films that harm the national interests of Ukraine. According to the activists, Russian movies and series carry hidden anti-Ukrainian propaganda, in particular humiliating Ukrainians and exalt the idea of the "Russian World" (, ), Russian armed forces and such. In addition, activists point out that the majority of the profits from the selling the rights to show movies goes to Russia.«Не пустимо в хату російську вату» — театралізована акція під Держкіно . Radio Liberty. 4 September 2014Під Держкіно вимагали прибрати з екранів російську пропаганду . DePo. 4 September 2014У Києві відбулася акція протесту проти російського кіно . UNN. 4 September 2014
Starting from September 2014, mainly in Kyiv, activists organize actions against the presence of Russian films and serials on Ukrainian television at the National Council for Television and Radio BroadcastingНацраду пікетували представники «Комітету ТелеЕтики», який виступає проти показу російських серіалів (ФОТО) . Telekrytyka. 6 November 2014Бабусі і студенти оточили Нацраду з телерадіомовлення . LB.ua. 6 November 2014 and the central offices of Ukrainian TV channels.Канал «1+1» пікетували представники «Комітету ТелеЕтики», який виступає проти показу російських серіалів (ОНОВЛЕНО) . Telekrytyka. 30 October 2014Зупиніть фінансування російських телесеріалів! . Portal of journalists. 5 November 2014 The protests also address the shooting of the Russian serials in UkraineУ Чернівцях пікетували зйомки російського серіалу . 0372.ua. 18 September 2014 and so on.
On 3 December 2014 in Kyiv at the National Council for Radio and Television, "Vidsich" activists held a theatrical protest whose purpose was to express the necessity to prohibit Russian movies, series, shows and other content on Ukrainian television. According to activists, the zombies at the protest portrayed ordinary viewers who have become "victims" of Russian propaganda and followers of the "Russian world".До Нацради з питань телебачення прийшли «телезомбі» . Radio Liberty. 3 December 2014«Зомбі» під Нацрадою вимагали позбавити ліцензій телеканали за трансляцію російських серіалів . UNN. 3 December 2014 The representative of the National Council, Vladislav Sevryukov, during the campaign said that the procedure of a license broadcaster is rather complicated and the process of replacing Russian TV production is long. The National Council pledged to work on new legislation to combat Russian propaganda.Ukraine zombie protests: Why activists raised the Walking Dead to fight Vladimir Putin. IBTimes. 4 December 2014'Zombie' protesters demand Ukraine stop airing Russian TV shows. Mashable. 3 December 2014
On 11 December 2014 activists picketed the head office of TV channel "Inter" in Kyiv. During the action "Do not kill our defenders with Russian propaganda!" Young people glued the main entrance with photographs of Ukrainian dead soldiers in the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine. According to activists, "Inter" ranked 2nd among channels showing content of Russian origin. Protesters emphasised that Russian films and serials glorifying Russian security forces at the time of war is unacceptable.Активісти заблокували вхід до «Інтеру» протестуючи проти російських серіалів . Radio Liberty. 11 December 2014«Російські фільми на «Інтері» - наші герої на цвинтарі!» – біля офісу "Інтера" пройшла протестна акція . Espreso TV. 11 December 2014
On 22 December 2014 "Vidsich" movement activists near the Presidential Administration of Ukraine demanded the complete banning of Russian films for the duration of the war, except those, which have "The Oscars" or "Palme d'Or" awards and have not any propaganda.Під Адміністрацією Президента провели флешмоб проти засилля російського телебачення. . Maidan press-center. 22 December 2014 Young people announced that an amount of Russian content on Ukrainian TV is increasing.Активісти-«зомбі» під АП вимагали заборонити показ російських серіалів . UNN. 22 December 2014 Activists gave petitions and propositions to administration representatives, addressed to the president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, and made a performance near the building. During it bloody zombies with sham machine guns and ribbons of Saint George demanded retrieval of Russian films in which Mikhail Porechenkov and Ivan Okhlobystin acted.Ukraine's zombies rise again to demand purge of Russian actors. IBTimes. 22 December 2014У Києві під АП «закривавлені телезомбі» вимагали більше серіалів з Охлобистіним . ZIK. 22 December 2014
From 29 December 2014 activists picketed a screening of the Russian films in Kyiv's movie theaters. Activists combined the pickets with another performance of "Russian goods kills!" flash mobs, which they made for "Do not buy Russian goods!" campaign. Pickets were to shows the film "Fir-trees 1914" () on 29 DecemberАктивісти у Києві провели «акцію ганьби» для глядачів російського фільму «Ёлки 1914» (ФОТО) . Telekrytyka. 29 December 2014А ты подарил русскому солдату пулю под елку на Новый Год? (ФОТО) . Novyi Region. 30 December 2014 and 4 January 2015. . Boycott Russian Films. 4 January 2015Активісти влаштували «кривавий» флешмоб перед показом російського фільму. ФОТО . ВолиньPost. 5 January 2015В киевском ТРЦ «Скаймол» охранники избили активистов, протестовавших против показа российских фильмов (ФОТО, ВИДЕО) . Novyi Region. 8 January 2015
From 31 December 2014 to 1 January 2015 during celebration of New Year the "Inter" TV channel broadcast a New Year show "Wait for me in the New Year" () with Russian stars who have supported occupation of Crimea by Russia (Joseph Kobzon, Oleg Gazmanov, Valeriya, etc.). This event immediately caused a burst of resentment in Ukrainian blogosphere«Интер», как и все каналы, боится потерять аудиторию, — Береза . Пресса Украины. 1 January 2015 and social network.У соцмережах повстали проти «Інтера» за концерт зірок, які підтримали агресію РФ . ТСН. 1+1. 1 January 2015#ИнтерБойкот. Соцсети взорвались из-за «российских песен и плясок» на «Интере» . Obozrevatel. 1 January 2015 On 1 January a number of Ukrainian high-ranked officials, politicians and cultural workers have reacted.«Подробности» на «Інтері» про новорічний концерт» каналу: це «російський шабаш» . Radio Liberty. 1 January 2015Нацсовет по телевидению займется «пророссийским» Новым годом на «Интере» . Obozrevatel. 1 January 2015Юрий Стець не будет лишать «Интер» лицензии . Delo. 1 January 2015 "1+1" TV channel was also criticised for the New Year's Eve content as the channel televised the "80th Disco" programme with Oleg Gazmanov participating.
On 27 January 2015 "Vidsich" activists near the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine held an action "TV screen are full of wadding - National Council does not care!" Young people wrapped the building facade in wadding (construction wool) and wrote pretensions to the council. Activists claimed they are not satisfied with the head of institution Yuriy Artemenko, his deputy Olga Gerasimyuk and the activity of National Council in general. This was substantiated by absence of any actions against "Inter" and other TV channels for their violations, particularly violation of regulation about compulsory 50% of Ukrainian content in broadcasting.Під Нацрадою активісти протестують проти телепродуктів з Росії . 24 Channel. 27 January 2015«З екранів лізе вата – Нацраді наплювати!» . Spilno.TV. 27 January 2015 After this National Council have appointed consideration of compliance with quotas by TV and radio channels of Ukraine on its conference on 12 February.Нацрада проаналізує дотримання мовниками квоти національного продукту . Telekrytyka. 30 January 2015
On 2 March 2015 activists of "Vidsich" and other activists held an action "While government protracts, Ukrainian blood effuses" near Verkhovna Rada. They demanded that parliament chairman Volodymyr Groysman signed the law #1317 "About changes to several laws of Ukraine for the protection of informational TV-Radio space of Ukraine" which have to considerably limit amounts of Russian TV-product in Ukrainian television. The law was adopted in the first reading on 5 February, but it was still not signed on the day the action happened.Активісти закликали голову ВР підписати законопроект про заборону російського кіно . zaxid.net. 2 March 2015 . Boycott Russian Films. 2 March 2015 Earlier activists published petition to the chairman of Verkhovna Rada which was signed by many public organizations of Ukraine. . Vidsich. 26 January 2015Невідкладно підписати закон про заборону російської телепропаганди . Internews Ukraine