Despite rabid popularity of the Comedy Central show, the channel that broadcasts “South Park” in Russia — along with “The Simpsons” and “The Family Guy” — is suspending the shows until charges of extremism brought in response to the shows’ content are settled. The channel, 2×2, received a recommendation today from the country’s federal broadcasting commission that its license be renewed. More:

“The Russian adult-oriented cartoon network TV channel faced similar accusations in March 2008, when Russian Protestant leaders submitted a request to the Prosecutor General’s Office asking for the channel’s license to be revoked, saying it ‘promotes immorality and violence.’


Prosecutors said last week that by showing such cartoons like South Park, the channel is promoting ‘violence, brutality and pornography,’ as well as suicide and antisocial behavior.


‘The content of these cartoons fails to comply with laws protecting the moral and psychological development of children,’ a statement read, adding that the cartoon breached international law and the rights of children.”

On Monday, police in Moscow broke up a rally of “South Park” supporters “after the amount of protesters greatly exceeded the officially sanctioned number.”