The Russian culture ministry has cleared a film depicting a love affair between Russia’s last tsar and a ballerina for nationwide release, despite protests from conservative critics who have demanded it be banned.
A spokesman for the Russian culture ministry said on Thursday that the film complied with Russian law and had been issued a 16+ certificate.
She admitted she had not seen the film when she made the request and said she did not plan to.
He said the certificate applied to the whole of Russia, but added that individual regions had the executive authority to ban the film if they wanted.