Russia arrests publishers, accuses them of distributing ‘LGBT Propaganda’

May 28 2025

On May 14, Eksmo, Russia’s largest publisher—accounting for approximately 20% of the market—sent a letter to “all interested organizations,” which included booksellers and other partners of the publisher, with a list of 50 titles to be “disposed of on site or returned if unsold.” The letter, PW has learned, was intended as a preemptive self-censorship move to shield the publishing house’s bookselling partners and others from a government crackdown that came came a day later, resulting in the arrest of eleven current and former employees of Eksmo. All were interrogated, and three have been accused of disseminating “LGBT propaganda”—a criminal act under Russian law. The three accused remain under house arrest.

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