A parents’ committee in the Urals has expressed outrage over what it sees as “sexual propaganda” put shamelessly on display in several of the region’s toy stores: scantily clad dolls.
Members of the Urals’ Parents Committee sounded the alarm after discovering a risqué doll in a “Children’s World” store in Nizhny Tagil, UralInformBureau online news agency reported Tuesday.
The group says they intend to file a complaint against the store owners with the children's ombudsman and local prosecutors after a thorough check of all children's stores in the area.
"I think sexual propaganda among minors can be discerned here," Nikolai Gorlo, an activist specializing in legal issues, was cited as saying by UralInformBureau.
He complained that what little clothing does come included with the dolls leaves nothing to the imagination, begging the question: "What associations will come to mind for kids?"
This is not the first moral expedition the Urals' Parents Committee has launched in the name of protecting children. Last week, members of the group in Yekaterinburg complained to local prosecutors about notebooks featuring the image of Adolf Hitler, which were on sale in several bookstores.
The group made headlines last September when it penned an open letter to President Vladimir Putin asking him to cancel a scheduled performance in Russia. "The singer intends to come out in support of local sodomites and break the current Russian law, directed at protecting children," the group said in quotes carried by Reuters at the time.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.