Stand against the proposal to ban emo/goth/punk lifestyle in the Russian Federation

The people that are trying to make this world worse are not taking a day off. How can we ?

People, having this negative idea that a petition wont help isn't strengthening our cause. We can make a difference here, by signing this petition and showing support we show them that we are not going to go down without a fight and that their pathetic, bias, distorted views have no place in this world! they have to listen to the majority, and hear our opinions and voices first before implementing this law. Just by signing this petition you have made a difference, and as the signature increase so will our voice and they will be forced to listen.

The people that are trying to make this world worse are not taking a day off. How can we?

The Russian government is in the process of drafting a law to make Emo and Goth music illegal. "State Duma deputies, Public Chamber members and social conservatives have hammered out legislation aimed at heading off the spread of Emo culture, which they describe as a 'dangerous teen trend.'

"The Duma last month held a parliamentary hearing on a raft of proposed amendments contained in a document called 'Government Strategy in the Sphere of Spiritual and Ethical Education. Among other measures, the proposed legislation apparently calls for heavy regulation of Emo web sites and for banning young people dressed like Emos from entering schools and government buildings. Russian lawmakers gave broad approval to a broad "concept for the spiritual and moral education of children," including plans for curfews, bans on "Emo and Goth" fashions in schools and censorship of text messages

The authorities of Nizhni Novgorod are concerned with protecting youth from the Emo movement. The regional Ministry of Education has provided all schools with directives warning them against the social danger of this youth subculture. The officials have given a detailed description of how Emo followers look like and warned against this movements ideology, according to which Emo representatives are immortal and in case of death they simply change their inner shape. The dream of every Emo is to die in a bathroom after cutting ones veins in wrist area (it is sort of sport for them). Due to this some of them wear bandages covering the wounds the document reads.

The new laws are being driven by fears that Emo culture's "negative ideology" may encourage depression, social withdrawal and even suicide, the bill alleges with young girls being particularly vulnerable. "Of course, there are emo teens who just listen to their music. But our actions are not directed at them but rather at those who also hurt themselves, commit suicide and promote those acts," bill co-author Igor Ponkin explained.

Though I am not certain how Ponkin intends to target people who have committed suicide, he certainly seems determined. The Times says "The bill also outlines what it calls a 'spiritual and ethical crisis' facing Russian youth, including the high rate of alcohol abuse, teen abortions and 'negative youth movements.' Emo kids were described as teenagers who wear black, have facial piercings and black hair with fringes that "cover half the face"

Expressing psychological emotions is not forbidden by law. Evidently they're operating under the misconception that, by eliminating the outlet for negative feelings, they will somehow be eliminating the feelings themselves. Igor Ponkin, from the Russian Interior Ministry's Public Oversight Council called Emo a "social danger" and "a threat to national stability" and said the bill is a reaction to teen suicides.

I cannot express in words the detrimental effect a law like this could have on our society, not just for the emo culture but for everyone.

If we allow our government to undermine our freedom of choice, our individuality, by dictating to us how we can live our life then we become nothing more than their extended mind and body. We lose all sense of self. This paves the way for them to control every aspect of our life and they wont be satisfied until they do .If we dont stop them in their tracks right now this will be the end result.


How can you stop people from expressing themselves, from dressing how they like, from living a way of life that doesn't harm anyone? The proposals are to be examined as draft laws over the next year. Emo music, characterised by high emotional content and alternation between quiet and loud sounds, started in the United States in the 1980s as part of the punk movement and has gained mainstream popularity in recent years.

The music as well as the associated fashion -- tight jeans, long fringes and eye-liner for guys -- has become popular across Russia.

We can make a difference here guys,
by signing this petition and showing
support we show them that we are not
going to go down without a fight and
that their pathetic, bias, distorted
views have no place in this world! They
have to listen to the majority, and
hear our opinions and voices first
before implementing this law. Just
by signing this petition you have
made a difference, and as the signatures
increase so will our voice and they
will be forced to listen.