🧐 UK Lawmakers Call for Ban on ‘Masha and the Bear’
The British political establishment has turned its attention to the kids' media sector. A cross-party coalition comprising more than 50 Members of Parliament from the UK's major political factions—including the Liberal Democrats, Labour, the Conservatives, and the Greens—has submitted an official appeal to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
The lawmakers are demanding broadcasting restrictions on the Russian animated series Masha and the Bear within the country, characterizing it as an instrument of “soft power” and “latent Kremlin propaganda.”
The escalation of the debate was triggered by the Cyprus-based production company Animaccord signing a new distribution agreement with Netflix for two upcoming seasons, alongside the ongoing streaming of the show on the British platform ITVX. The MPs contend that the series “normalizes Soviet military iconography for a global audience of young children.” As evidence, they cite specific episodes in which the main character wears headgear resembling a Soviet-era tank crew helmet and a border guard cap.
Conversely, Animaccord has vigorously refuted the allegations. Company representative Melanie Bonvicino stated that the project is an entirely commercial venture that has never received state funding and has consistently broadcast universal values of friendship and kindness for nearly two decades.
Sources in the UK note that broadcast programming schedules remain the sole prerogative of the streaming platforms themselves, provided their content complies with the core regulations established by the media watchdog Ofcom.
Source: The Guardian
