Russian Publisher Under Investigation for “LGBT Propaganda” Amid Widening Crackdown

One of Russia’s largest publishing houses confirmed on Wednesday that several of its top executives are being questioned by authorities over alleged “LGBT propaganda” in its book catalog, highlighting the expanding restrictions on LGBTQ+ content under President Vladimir Putin’s administration.

Eksmo Publishing acknowledged that its general director Evgeniy Kapiev and three other employees were taken in for questioning by Russian authorities. The publisher clarified that no official “investigative actions” had occurred at its Moscow offices and denied reports that books had been seized, contradicting earlier Russian media claims of raids conducted by the Investigative Committee, which handles serious criminal cases.

The investigation appears to center on content published by Popcorn Books, a young adult imprint acquired by Eksmo in 2023 and shuttered earlier this year. Popcorn Books had specialized in teenage literature, including titles with LGBTQ+ characters and themes.

“The criminal case was opened in May 2023 and concerned several titles with characteristics of LGBT propaganda, published by Popcorn Books prior to its merger with Eksmo,” the publisher stated. The company suggested that dozens of books with LGBTQ+ content were not properly accounted for in stock records and were sold during Popcorn’s closure.

The case emerges within a broader context of tightening restrictions on LGBTQ+ expression in Russia. Under Putin’s leadership, the government has increasingly positioned itself as a defender of “traditional values” against what it portrays as Western moral decay. In late 2022, Russia expanded its 2013 law prohibiting children from exposure to “non-traditional family values,” extending the ban on “LGBT propaganda” to all ages regardless of demographic.

In a particularly severe escalation, Russia’s Supreme Court last year designated what it terms the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist organization, effectively criminalizing positive LGBTQ+ expression. Russian authorities have also labeled ILGA World, a global LGBTQ+ rights organization, as an “undesirable organization,” making advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights a criminal offense.

The impact of these restrictions extends beyond publishing. Private companies across various media sectors face routine fines for hosting LGBTQ+ content. Earlier this year, the news outlet SarBC was fined 500,000 rubles (approximately $6,600) for publishing a review of the Canadian drama series “Heated Rivalry,” which features a storyline about a Russian hockey player who falls in love with a Canadian rival. The outlet’s IT director faced an additional personal fine of 50,000 rubles.

Eksmo revealed earlier this month that it has implemented artificial intelligence tools to review its extensive catalog—which includes some 3 million titles dating back to 1990—for potentially prohibited content.

Human rights organizations have consistently condemned Russia’s intensifying restrictions on LGBTQ+ expression. Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, has described Russian legislation as “weaponizing” the justice system against LGBTQ+ individuals and their supporters as part of a “draconian crusade to enforce ‘traditional values.'”

Despite growing international concern, the Kremlin has not commented on the Eksmo investigation, and the Investigative Committee has not responded to requests for details about the case. Under Russian law, authorities must file formal charges within 48 hours of detention, though it remains unclear whether Eksmo’s executives have been formally detained or simply brought in for questioning.

The popular young adult novel “Summer in a Pioneer’s Tie,” published by Popcorn Books before its acquisition, became a surprise bestseller in Russia with over 200,000 copies sold in its first six months despite—or perhaps because of—its storyline about two boys falling in love at a Soviet summer camp.