Anti-smoking posters showing a cigarette being extinguished on the body of a sleeping baby have been harshly criticized by the Moscow Advertisement, Information and Design Committee.

The advertisement, which was produced by the advertising companies News Outdoor Group and ADV Group, is displayed around Moscow and includes the slogan "Smoking in the presence of a child is a greater torture for him. Do you care?"

The committee has received many complaints from Moscow residents and nongovernmental organizations about the ads, which Russian Internet users described as monstrous.

"Last week... the campaign was recognized as being 'beyond generally accepted ethical norms' and promoting child abuse," the committee said in a statement on its website.

The committee has turned to the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service for a decision on whether such advertising should continue to be displayed on the streets of Moscow.

MOSCOW, March 17 (RIA Novosti)