A wave of arrests has shaken Russia’s publishers, as key figures from major publishing houses, including the country’s largest, Eksmo, have been detained by law enforcement. The arrests, part of a series of coordinated raids, are reportedly tied to “extremism” and “LGBTQ+ propaganda” allegations.

In 2023, the Supreme Court in Russia passed a motion to ban the “international LGBTQ+ movement”, deeming it “extremist”. Activists have stressed that the definition is vague and poorly defined, putting any queer individuals or groups at risk.

According to reports published on May 14, Russian authorities detained at least 10 individuals as part of a criminal investigation into alleged “involvement in the activities of an extremist organization” for publishing LGBTQ+ themed books.

Among those detained is Anatoly Norovyatkin, a senior distribution director at Eksmo, a major figure in Russian publishing. He has held his role at the company for several years and is widely considered a key player in book distribution across Russia. Also detained are individuals linked to Popcorn Books and Individuum, two imprints that Eksmo acquired in 2023.

Founded in 1991, Eksmo has grown to become Russia’s largest publishing house. In 2023 alone, the company released 8,643 titles, a figure that rivals the output of international publishing giants like Penguin Random House. While Eksmo publishes a wide range of genres and authors, recent attention has focused on its newer imprints, particularly Popcorn Books and Individuum, which represent younger, more progressive voices in Russian literature.

Popcorn Books has become known for its LGBTQ+ inclusive young adult fiction, making it a niche publisher in Russia’s increasingly conservative cultural climate. Individuum, on the other hand, is known for its focus on critical non-fiction, publishing titles that engage with social issues and political discourse.

The detentions have sent shockwaves through the Russian literary community, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression and the future of independent publishing in the country. The use of “extremism” accusations, which are increasingly employed to silence queer voices, has already triggered widespread alarm.

As the investigation unfolds, it remains unclear whether this is an isolated crackdown or the beginning of a broader campaign targeting cultural figures and institutions seen as out of step with the current conservative agenda.

Reacting to the arrests made, Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Russia Director, said: “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.”

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