The Largest Book Publisher in Russia, Eksmo, Is Under Investigation for “diffusion of LGBT literature”.
No one escapes the state homophobia implemented by Vladimir Putin. The largest book publisher in Russia, Eksmo, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, was subjected on Tuesday, April 21, to searches and interrogations as part of a criminal case concerning the “diffusion of LGBT literature”, the state news agency TASS reported.
These investigative acts are linked to the distribution of books from another imprint operating under Eksmo’s umbrella, Popcorn, which publishes works that reference LGBT+ people. “We confirm that the CEO of Eksmo, Evgueni Kapiev, as well as a number of colleagues, are being questioned at the Russian Investigative Committee as part of a criminal extremism case related to the distribution of books from the Popcorn publishing house”, said Eksmo’s communications director to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“Propaganda LGBT”
In January 2023, Popcorn became the first Russian publishing house to be prosecuted for “LGBT propaganda”, following a complaint by a deputy, according to the NGO OVD-Info, itself classified as an “foreign agent”. In May 2025, about ten Eksmo employees, including the distribution director, were arrested and searches conducted as part of this case.
Meanwhile, continuing the ongoing hardening of state homophobia in Russia, the Supreme Court banned at the end of 2023 the “International LGBT Movement”, categorized as “extremism”. A vague formulation but one that opens the door to severe prison sentences. On Tuesday, Popcorn Books announced on Telegram its closure, reports the media Novaya Gazeta, stating: “Every day, we think of those with whom we have worked for many years and we are very worried for them.”
