May 22, 2025

Russia's War on Books


Russia's War on Books
Books from Eksmo's "exclusive classics" collection. Bbj, Wikimedia Commons.

On May 14, police in Moscow raided the largest publishing house in Russia and arrested 10 former and current employees involved in shipping, management, and accounting. Authorities are investigating the firm's editorial content for "LGBT propaganda."

The company Eksmo acquired an over 51 percent stake at publishing houses Popcorn Books and Individuum in 2023. Now it is being investigated for the books published by both these companies.

Popcorn Books is known for publishing fanfics and romance novels. In 2021, it published Elena Malisova and Yekaterina Silvanova's "Leto v Pionerskom Galstuke("Pioneer Summer"). The queer romance novel sold 250,000 copies, becoming Russia's second place bestseller that year. However, Russian officials quickly tried to limit its circulation, drawing up protocols against Popcorn. Malisova and Silvanova were declared foreign agents shortly afterward. After the "LGBT propaganda" ban came into force in 2022, Popcorn Books began printing their books with a black binding, citing article 29 of the Russian constitution, which guarantees free speech.

Individuum, which specializes in nonfiction, published Rustam Alexander's 2023 book "Zakritye. Zhizn Gomoseksualnov v SSSR" ("Red Closet: The Hidden History of Gay Oppresion in the USSR"). In March 2025, the publisher was denied participation at a nonfiction book fair held in April in Moscow. 

The homes and offices of current and former employees were also raided. Eksmo's distribution director, the heads of Popcorn Books and Individuum, a former sales director, and a former accountant were all among the employees detained. Most were released after being interrogated. However, former sales director Pavel Ivanov, warehouse manager Artem Vakhlyaev, and executive director Dmitry Protopopov have been criminally charged. Chief accountant Inessa Nurtdinova and distribution director Anatoly Norovyatkin were released but may still face charges.

After the publisher's employees were detained, shops nationwide received from authorities a list of books published by Eksmo that are subject to destruction. "We once again ask you, in case any remain, to dispose of the books on site or return the remaining products to our address via next day delivery," reads the letter. Out of the 48 books cited, only one was from Individuum. The rest were from Popcorn Books.

 

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