This is not a unique system to Russia - it exists in many nations including Canada. I was watching a British documentary about this crazy author names David Ickes (I think that is his name) who claims the world is run by freemasons who are really alien lizards. Sounds whacky, but he is popular and many Jewish groups think he is a secret anti-semite who is using code words like lizards to describe a Jewish cabal to take over the world - he claims it is lizards only. Anyways, the reason I bring this up is he went to Canada on a book signing tour and a complaint was filed and he was investigated.
We in America have something close to it it though - the FCC - the investigate complaints about broadcasters all the time -well founded or not.