Russian police raid book publisher accused of pushing ‘gay propaganda’
Summary
Russian police raided Eksmo, the country's largest publisher, accusing it of spreading "gay propaganda" through books with LGBTQ themes. Authorities took the CEO and other staff for questioning as part of a criminal investigation on extremism targeting materials seen as promoting same-sex relationships.Key Facts
- Russian police seized thousands of books from Eksmo and questioned its CEO, Yevgeny Kapiev.
- The investigation focuses on books that allegedly promote "gay propaganda" to young people.
- Russia has banned books approving same-sex relationships for over 10 years, recently tightening the law.
- Publishers must remove and destroy books depicting same-sex relationships due to new regulations.
- In 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court labeled LGBTQ activists as "extremists" and banned their activities.
- People displaying LGBTQ symbols, such as rainbow flags, have faced fines and jail sentences.
- The crackdown on LGBTQ rights is part of a broader move toward conservative social policies following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- Russia ranks near the bottom in Europe for LGBTQ tolerance according to Rainbow Europe.
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