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Censorship in the field of art is unacceptable, but the authorities have the right to influence what is being created for public funds. This was stated by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, RIA Novosti reports .

"As such, censorship is unacceptable. This topic was discussed at the president’s meetings with representatives of the theater, cinema community. Censorship is unacceptable, but at the same time it is necessary to clearly differentiate those productions, those works that are placed or withdrawn for state money, and those that are removed with the involvement of any other sources of financing," Peskov said.

According to the press secretary, if the state allocates funds, then it has the right to denote the topic. "Naturally, if the state gives money for some kind of production, the state has the right to indicate a particular topic, the state orders a work of art on a particular topic within the framework of those programs that are in the implementation." Peskov noted. - Again this is not censorship, it is not necessary to confuse this with the order of the state. "

“As for the works, I repeat once again that are born without the participation of state money, the main thing here is not to violate some basic provisions of the current legislation. This refers to the fight against extremism, provoking the growth on religious and other soil. The main criterion is compliance with the current legislation. Of course, the censorship here is in no way acceptable,” the spokesman added.

Thus, Peskov commented on the performance of the head of the Satyrikon Theater, People's Artist Konstantin Raikin , who announced the growing influence of the state in art.

The day before, speaking at the seventh congress of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia, Raikin called "ugly encroachment on the freedom of creativity" Closing a number of performances and exhibitions. The artist announced the repeated "raids for art." He expressed concern in that the authorities neutrally behave in relation to "groups of allegedly offended people who close the performances, close exhibitions, brazenly behave very much."

“The ban on censorship - I don’t know how someone treats this, but I think that this is the greatest event of a centuries -old significance in our life, in the artistic, spiritual life of our country,” Raikin said. “And what is happening now? I now see how the hands of someone are clearly scratching - it is to change and return it back not only during the time of stagnation, but in more old times - in Stalin's times.”