Russians Float Swearing Ban

Anti-vice campaign would make cursing cost

By Emily Rauhala

Posted Dec 18, 2009 5:00 AM CST

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Russians Float Swearing Ban — People walk the street in downtown Moscow, Monday, Dec. 15, 2009, as record warm weather at the start of December gave way to temperatures of minus -13 degrees Fahrenheit. (AP Photo/ Mikhail Metzel)

As part of a Kremlin-backed push to clean up Russia's morals, a group of senators is looking into a country-wide swearing ban. The proposed rule is inspired by the Russian city of Belgorod, where police already issue on-the-spot fines for bad language. Utter a swear in this clean-talking town and the cops will charge you anywhere from $16 to $48; Those who dare swear in front of kids get docked the most.

The campaign seems to have been motivated in part by a recent spate of tirades against Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev on a popular blog.

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