Russia detains publishing professionals for distributing ‘extremist’ queer literature as international human rights groups sound the alarm over free speech violations.
At a Glance
- Russian authorities have detained at least 10 book publishing professionals on charges related to “extremism” for publishing LGBTQ+ themed books
- The arrests follow Russia’s 2023 Supreme Court decision labeling the “International LGBT Movement” as an “extremist” organization
- Amnesty International has demanded the immediate release of the detained individuals, calling the crackdown “absurd” and “terrifying”
- None of the books in question, including popular titles like “Heartstopper,” are officially banned or labeled as “extremist” in Russia
- The publishing crackdown is part of Russia’s broader campaign against LGBTQ+ rights, which includes raids on bars and restrictive legislation
Russia’s Escalating Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Expression
Russian security forces have detained at least 10 book publishing professionals in Moscow on charges related to “extremism” and alleged “LGBTI propaganda.” The detained individuals include prominent figures such as Anatoly Norovyatkin from EKSMO publishing house and Dmitry Protopopov, co-founder of Popcorn Books.
Authorities claim these individuals distributed over 900 copies of LGBTQ+ themed books, though notably, none of these publications have been officially banned or labeled as “extremist” materials under Russian law. The books in question include internationally acclaimed titles such as “Heartstopper,” “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” and the Russian novel “The Summer in a Pioneer Tie.”
These arrests are the latest development in Russia’s systematic campaign against LGBTQ+ rights. In November 2023, the Russian Supreme Court declared the “International LGBT Movement” an “extremist” organization, creating the legal framework for widespread persecution. This judicial decision was followed in March 2025 when a Russian state financial watchdog classified the “LGBT public movement” as a terrorist organization, further criminalizing LGBTQ+ expression and advocacy. Since these rulings, authorities have launched at least 12 criminal cases, conducted numerous raids, issued fines, and forcibly closed LGBTQ+ advocacy groups across the country.
International Response and Condemnation
Amnesty International has taken a firm stance against these detentions, calling for the immediate release of the publishing professionals. The organization characterizes these actions as part of a broader assault on free expression and cultural freedoms in Russia. The crackdown has drawn widespread international condemnation, with multiple human rights organizations expressing concern about Russia’s increasing authoritarianism and the government’s targeting of minority groups under the pretext of defending “traditional values.”
“In their ruthless campaign against LGBTI 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,” said Natalia Zviagina.
Human Rights Watch’s Russia Director, Tanya Lokshina, has contextualized these actions within Russia’s broader rejection of international human rights standards. According to Lokshina, the Russian government has positioned itself as a defender of so-called traditional values in opposition to Western liberalism. This stance has manifested in increasingly repressive policies targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and those who support them, including publishers, writers, and cultural institutions that feature queer narratives or themes.
Legislative Framework for Repression
Russia’s parliament has systematically constructed a legal architecture to suppress LGBTQ+ visibility and rights. In November, lawmakers passed legislation banning LGBTQ+ representation in media and restricting adoption by citizens of countries that permit gender transitioning. These laws build upon earlier “gay propaganda” legislation that prohibited the “promotion” of non-traditional sexual relationships to minors, which has since been expanded to cover adults as well. The legal framework has enabled security forces to conduct raids on bars and nightclubs in Moscow under the pretext of combating what authorities term LGBT propaganda.
“The assault on LGBT rights has become a symbol of Russia’s rejection of universal human rights, as the government positions Russia as the defender of so-called traditional values in opposition to ‘the collective West’,” Tanya Lokshina said.
Amnesty International has emphasized that despite the Russian government’s intensifying persecution, such efforts will ultimately fail to erase LGBTQ+ identities from Russian society. The organization’s Russia Director, Natalia Zviagina, has called for an immediate end to the persecution, noting that “love and knowledge will always endure over hatred and repression.” As international pressure mounts, human rights advocates continue to monitor the situation of the detained publishers and the broader implications for freedom of expression in Russia.
