The censorship law in Russia, far from only affecting tools covering politics and international relations, has created new victims in the country’s media, with seven titles by publisher Condé Nast ending up airing due to increased repression by the government. Vladimir Putin. during war in ukraine.
Vogue Russia, GQ, GQ Style, Tatler, Glamor, Glamor Style Book, and Architectural Digest were initially suspended but have now been shut down for good in response to new laws that frighten journalists, including one that bans the use of the word “war.” ” to describe the occupation of neighboring lands.
“Our work in Russia has become unsustainable,” said Roger Lynch, the company’s CEO, in a statement sent to the magazine’s global team.
Russian censorship law forces Condé Nast to shut down operations in the country
Since the war, many fashion and luxury brands, including Hermès, LVMH, Richemont and Kering, have stopped their sales in Russia due to the conflict with Ukraine.
On March 9, Hearst Magazines, publisher of Elle, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan, also announced that it has terminated licensing deals for Russian publications.
Russian influencers with millions of Instagram followers lost their source of income through sponsored posts that Instagram was hastily kicked out of the country on March 14 for finding other channels.
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While the CEO of Condé Nast confirmed the shutdown of Vogue and other magazines, he regretted the closure of operations in Russia after more than two decades of publishing the main headlines of the American publisher in the country.
“While we have had successful business in Russia for over 20 years, the continued brutality caused by this gratuitous war and the associated censorship laws have made it impossible for us to operate there.”
Russian editions of Condé Nast were initially suspended on March 9, two weeks after the invasion of Ukraine.
The Vogue Russia profile, at the time, said in an Instagram post that it notified its 1 million followers of the suspension:
“We believe this is a short break, not a farewell letter, then we will get back to you. We hope to continue our work as soon as possible,” he said.
“Vogue was launched in Russia in 1998. During this time, the magazine has grown into a cross-platform brand with millions of viewers.”
“Throughout all these years, we have seen it as our mission to talk not only about fashion, but also about culture, art and the public agenda. We hope we can continue our work as soon as possible. Thank you for your support.”
This was the last post on the magazine’s profile on the social network.
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Vogue Russia is the 10th international edition of the iconic fashion magazine and the flagship of Condé Nast’s Russian vertical. Models such as Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner were featured on the cover.
British journalist Fiona McKenzie Johnston, a regular contributor to Vogue Russia, told The Guardian that the editorial staff in the country are “very peace-loving” and use the magazine’s platform to promote anti-war messages.
Earlier in March, Vogue Russia shared on its Instagram feed a series of Picasso-inspired pigeons, illustrated by Russian artists. “’Vogue calls for peace’ was a constant refrain,” said McKenzie Johnston.
Condé Nast said on its website that Vogue Russia has more than 800,000 readers and is the most read fashion magazine in the country. The company claims the total reach of its Russian editions is over 21 million.
Lynch explained to staff that about 10% of employees in Russia will remain “to fulfill certain obligations.”
“It is our absolute priority to provide severance and increased benefits, assist employees and layoff programs, and do everything we can to support everyone affected, including specific guidance from the People team when applying for open positions in other markets.”
Condé Nast Russia’s initial suspension comes after several fashion designers and luxury goods companies, including Hermès, LVMH, Richemont and Kering, announced that they had halted negotiations in Russia over the conflict with Ukraine.
On March 9, Hearst Magazines, publisher of Elle, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan, also announced that it has terminated licensing deals for Russian publications.
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Censorship in Russia has already caused dozens of foreign vehicles to leave the country
In early March a New law passed in the Russian parliament that sentences journalists up to 15 years in prison spreading “fake news” about “military operations” in the neighboring country – in other words, it is forbidden for the national and foreign press to claim that Russia is at war with Ukraine.
Since then, dozens of foreign vehicles have halted operations and evacuated crews from the country. The New York Times was one of them. The newspaper has had correspondents in Russia since 1921, and this was the first time in more than a century that it had to expel them from the country.
US broadcasters CNN, ABC New, CBS News, Spanish agency EFE, Italian state television RAI, Radio Canada, German ARD and ZDF, and Bloomberg News also withdrew from Russia in response to the law, which puts journalists at risk.
Like other Western broadcasters, the BBC suspended its activities in Russia after the censorship law passed. Days later, however, he announced the resumption of English-language services in the country and that radio should become the biggest ally in informing the Eastern European public about the war.
Bypassing censorship, the BBC broadcasts four hours of the World Service daily to Ukraine and parts of Russia, read in English.
hour social media platforms are also blocked In the Putin government since the invasion of Ukraine: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Facebook’s Russian equivalent, VKontakte, have been banned from the country, limiting citizens’ access to war-related information.
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source: Noticias