The case is built on allegations of distributing more than 900 copies of ten LGBT+ themed publications within Russia

These arrests come amid an escalating crackdown on LGBT+ rights

If convicted, the publishing professionals could face prison sentences of up to 12 years

‘One thing is clear: no amount of bans, arrests or prosecutions will erase the existence of LGBT+ people in Russia’ - Natalia Zviagina

Reacting to the Russian security forces' detention of at least 10 book publishing professionals in Moscow on “extremism” related charges over alleged “LGBTI propaganda” in books published by affiliated printing houses, Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Russia Director, said:

“In their ruthless campaign against LGBT+ people, Russian authorities have now come after book publishers, accusing them of ‘extremism’ for merely doing their job: bringing books to readers. This shameless heavy-handed use of state apparatus against literature is as absurd as it is terrifying.

“One thing is clear: no amount of bans, arrests or prosecutions will erase the existence of LGBT+ people in Russia, or anywhere else. History has shown that attempts to supress identity and censor knowledge are ultimately futile. Love and knowledge will always endure over hatred and repression.

“The detained publishing professionals must be immediately released, the criminal charges against them dropped and the ongoing persecution of LGBT+ people, organisations and initiatives in Russia must be brought to an end.”

Prison sentences of up to 12 years

On 14 May, Russian security forces detained at least 10 individuals in Moscow as part of a criminal investigation into alleged “involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation,” “participation in the activities” of such an organisation, and “organising its work using official position” (Article 282.2(1.1), (2), (3) of the Criminal Code) for publishing LGBTI-themed books.

Among the 10 individuals taken in for questioning is Anatoly Norovyatkin, distribution director at EKSMO, as well as Popcorn Books co-founder Dmitry Protopopov and former sales director Pavel Ivanov. On 15 May, three people were formally charged, their names are not yet disclosed. If convicted under these charges, they could face prison sentences of up to 12 years.

According to the lawyer, the case is based on the alleged distribution of over 900 copies of ten LGBT+ themed titles, none of which have been officially banned or labelled “extremist.” Among the books named in the case is The Summer in a Pioneer Tie (translated in English as Pioneer Summer), a bestselling novel by Elena Malisova and Katerina Silvanova depicting a same-sex romance between two Soviet teenagers. The authors were arbitrarily designated “foreign agents” by the Ministry of Justice in February 2024. Other titles include Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper, Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and Becky Albertalli’s Leah on the Offbeat and Love, Creekwood – all published by Popcorn Books between 2019 and 2022.

Crackdown on LGBT+ rights

The arrests take place against the backdrop of an accelerating crackdown on LGBT+ rights following a November 2023 decision by Russia’s Supreme Court to ban the so-called “International LGBT Movement” as “extremist,” enabling the persecution of anyone associated with LGBT+ identities or advocacy under anti-extremism legislation. Since the ban came into force in January 2024, Russian authorities have launched at least 12 criminal cases, conducted raids on LGBT+ venues, issued administrative fines and short-term detentions for displaying rainbow-themed symbols and forced the closure of LGBT+ advocacy groups.