Opponents clash over Russian ban of 'Death of Stalin' film Russia's culture ministry on Tuesday withdrew permission for the release of British black comedy "The Death of Stalin" after officials and top arts figures labelled it offensive and "extremist". At a press conference held at Russia's National News Service (NSN) headquarters, a backer of the ban called it "moral pornography", while a defender of the film decried state censorship. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES