Several employees of the largest Russian book publishing house “Eksmo” and the publishing houses Popcorn Books and Individuum belonging to it have been detained in a case of extremism. The case relates to books in which law enforcement agencies have identified so-called LGBT propaganda. The “LGBT movement”, which does not formally exist, is banned in Russia and recognised as extremist.
The detainees include Dmitry Protopopov, head of Popcorn Books and Individuum, Pavel Ivanov, former sales director of the publishing houses, and Anatoly Norovyatkina, distribution director of Eksmo; the total number of detainees could be about 10 people, Kommersant and TASS reported.
In 2022, the Russian Justice Ministry recognised former Individuum owners Andrei Baev and Alexei Dokuchaev as foreign agents.
At that time, their persecution was related to the publication of the novel “Summer in a Pioneer Tie” by Ekaterina Silvanova and Elena Malisova – about a homosexual relationship between a pioneer and a counsellor. The novel was published by Popcorn Books.
According to Kommersant, the case could have been initiated under the article on the appeal to extremism. Under it, the suspects could face four to eight years in prison. The investigation may ask for a preventive measure as early as 15 May.