The Ministry of Internal Affairs demanded that printing houses report orders that “discredit” the authorities

In Moscow, the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent a letter to a printing house demanding that they report orders for the printing of materials that “discredit” government officials or are of a “propaganda nature”. A photo of such a letter was published on Twitter by designer Alena Salmanova.

I hereby notify you of the inadmissibility of accepting orders and producing printed materials that discredit representatives of state authorities of the Russian Federation, political figures, including those that discredit the honor and dignity of a person and citizen, which are of an agitational nature, including calls for holding unauthorized rallies, processions, in the period of preparation and conduct of the elections of the President of the Russian Federation on March 18, 2018,

- says a letter sent out by the Department of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Western Administrative District of Moscow.

There are three phone numbers in the text of the letter, which are invited to report suspicious print orders. Mediazona journalists have already phoned one of the numbers, Mikhail Korchagin, an employee of the department for combating economic crimes, answered the phone. He confirmed the fact of sending such letters.

It is not clear on what basis the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs require printing houses to perform practically expert functions. Moreover, this requirement is introduced only for the period of the election campaign of the President of Russia. On March 18, the presidential elections in Russia are to be held.

How designers and managers should determine the "unauthorized" rallies or the "propaganda nature" of printed materials is not reported.