According to multiple sources, authorities in Russia have banned multiple isekai (other world) series from being hosted in the country.

A posting from the Russian court’s official Telegram channel explains the rationale behind the ruling. Reportedly the series have been banned for “the theory of rebirth, showing that after death a more interesting, diverse and uncontrolled life from parents is possible. The world after death is positioned as more colorful and full of adventure with the possibility of a binge lifestyle, drinking alcohol, sexual relations, and illegal activities, while the real world is presented as joyless and full of loneliness” (Translation: DeepL).

Banned titles include God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! which is affectionately shortened to KonoSuba, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (TenSura), and interestingly enough Zombieland Saga which isn’t really an isekai series (though does feature Truck-kun).

The court has reportedly ruled the dissemination of these series in the Russian Federation to be illegal due to their content. The full reporting from Telegram can be found below.

About the Wonderful World and Zombies

The Krasnogvardeisky District Court of St. Petersburg ruled on an administrative lawsuit by the prosecutor to recognize information disseminated through the
Internet as information the dissemination of which is prohibited in the Russian Federation.

The prosecutor indicated that in carrying out supervisory activities the prosecutor’s office identified publicly available Internet resources on the pages of which harmful information was posted, including pornographic information capable of causing harm to the mental health and development of children and teenagers, for the distribution of which Article 6.17 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation provides for administrative responsibility and Article 242 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides for criminal responsibility.

In support of his claims, the prosecutor referred to the conclusions of experts of the St. Petersburg Academy of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education of 02.12.2020.

Entrance to the above sites is free, registration of users to access the sites is not required, anyone can familiarize themselves with the content of the sites.

The court concluded, for example, that the animated series “This Wonderful World” promotes the theory of rebirth, showing that after death a more interesting, diverse and uncontrolled life from parents is possible. The world after death is positioned as more colorful and full of adventure with the possibility of a binge lifestyle, drinking alcohol, sexual relations, and illegal activities, while the real world is presented as joyless and full of loneliness.

The court granted the prosecutor’s demands, recognizing the information disseminated at: [links removed] to be information whose dissemination is prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Translation: DeepL