ABSTRACT
The debate over the fate of pornography in Russia is colored by a society that is traditional, perhaps even pre-modern, yet buffeted by the post-modern cultural images of the West and the ideas of contemporary thought - ideas that are often only partially relevant to the Russian condition. The debate between conservatives and libertarians has gone on for some time in Russia, although the conservatives usually have dominated. The historical survey in this work showed that the Russians have no strong experience with freedom of the press. Pornography is also understood differently. Contemporary conservatives in Russia tend to support the notion that pornography is one of a series of symptoms of a society that has forgotten its moral values. Censorship of pornography has long been a part of Russian governmental policy. It fit so well in the Russian political system because there was a general precedent for interventionist government, making interference in sexual affairs acceptable.
