Russian channel cuts depiction of Putin from South Park episode

The South Park episode “Free Willzyx,” from the 2005 ninth season of the series, has been shown in Russia in an edited form, NEWSru.com reports. A 1 minute, 20 second segment of the episode depicting Vladimir Putin, who was president of Russia when the episode was first shown, was cut.

In the missing segment, Kyle, one of the four main characters on the show, calls Putin to ask if Russia can fly a whale to the moon. Putin thinks Kyle is George W. Bush making a crank call. The missing part of the episode can be viewed in Russian on the website rutube.ru.

Analysts speculate that the television channel removed the footage on its own initiative. Its caution may be due to the fact that the channel had come under harsh attack from an association of Russian Pentecostals for showing South Park in the first place. According to the fundamentalists, the American series is immoral and encourages extremism.

Last September, when a court agreed with the Pentecostals’ judgment and it appeared possible that the channel would be denied relicensing because of the program, a massive popular campaign in support of South Park was begun. Demonstrations were held in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and 50,000 signatures were gathered in support of it.