A public row haserupted over the Russian government's decision to ban an ethnic Yakut film from online streaming platforms over claims of nationalism."Ayta" became thehighest-grossingfilm ever in theFar East republic of Sakha (Yakutia), raking in more than 26 million rubles ($275,000) at the box office after its premiere in March.The award-winning thriller centers around tensions between villagers in Sakha and an ethnic Russian police officer wrongfully accused of raping and killing an ethnic Yakut teen.Russias media regulator Roskomnadzor earlier this monthordered streaming platforms to remove Ayta due to its destructive information that contradicts the principles of unity among the peoples of Russia.The film demonstrates inequality based on nationality, the regulator said, adding thatpositive aspects of characters belonging to one nationality are contrasted with the pointedly negative traits of characters belonging to another.On Friday, Sakhas weekly publication Yakutsk Vecherniy ran theheadline Roskompozor on its front page a play on words that combines the media watchdogs title with the Russian word for shame.High-profile Yakut figures interviewed by Yakutsk Vecherniy all expressed hope that Roskomnadzor would ultimately overturn its own ban.It feels like the officials just didnt see the movie or didnt finish it, the publication wrote.Aytas director Stepan Burnashev argued that Roskmonadzor mistook the films plot for an expression of separatism.The story is in fact about the division of people into us and them that can lead to tragedy, Burnashev told the Russian business daily Vedomosti.Sakhas Culture Minister this weeksaid he hoped Roskmonadzor would reconsider its ban but declined to openly challenge the federal agency.