May 29, 2026

Teen Accused of LGBT Propaganda


Teen Accused of LGBT Propaganda
An empty classroom in Russia. The Russian Life file.

On May 22, independent outlet Mediazona reported that police had pressed charges against a thirteen-year-old boy for spreading "LGBT Propaganda" and exhibiting extremist symbols. According to the newspaper, his friends' parents reported him to the police.

The boy, whose name and location have been withheld to protect his identity, is known for his academic excellence. He took part in academic Olympics and won multiple prizes. He is now registered as a juvenile delinquent.

According to the child's lawyer, he showed a meme or a video to his friends or their parents, who later reported him to the police. His legal counsel said, "He wasn't trying to disseminate propaganda. He doesn't know what it is." The lawyer said the kid's hormones "activated" and he meant to show the image as a joke, but "the boy did not think of the consequences, and our legal system acted too quickly."

The age of criminal responsibility in Russia is 16, so the child is not facing prison time. However, the Juvenile Affairs Commission has deemed him eligible for "rehabilitation." Authorities are still evaluating whether to send him to a specialized school for juvenile offenders.

The lawyer told Mediazona, "Kids can connect to the internet, discover [something], and show it to an adult. And authorities consider this to be some form of propaganda." The mother of the boy confirmed the ongoing investigation against her son, but refused to give details because the information was "classified."

You Might Also Like

Debt is Dangerous
  • May 23, 2026

Debt is Dangerous

On the dangerous growth of Russia's debt collection agencies.
12 Years for Hating War
  • May 26, 2026

12 Years for Hating War

Anna Arkhipova has been sentenced to 12 years for hating war and saying so publicly.
Feeling the Burn
  • May 19, 2026

Feeling the Burn

Spring burns of Russian fields are both common and tragic.
A Presidential Rideshare
  • May 21, 2026

A Presidential Rideshare

  After Victory Day, President Putin made time to take a PR spin with an old teacher.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955