Police raid Russia's top publisher in 'LGBT propaganda' case

Moscow: Russian police on Tuesday raided the country’s top publishing house in a case over the publication of “LGBT literature”.

Police were targeting Yevgeny Kapiev, CEO of Russia’s largest publisher Eksmo, for “investigative actions” as part of “a criminal extremism case”, the state-run TASS news agency reported.

The Kremlin has for years been hardening repressive laws against the LGBTQ community as part of what Russian President Vladimir Putin touts as a drive to promote “traditional values”.

The ultra-conservative social turn has accelerated amid the Ukraine war, with strict censorship on media and the outlawing of what Moscow calls the “LGBT movement” as “extremist”.

Citing an anonymous law enforcement source, TASS reported that police were searching Eksmo’s headquarters “as part of a criminal case on the distribution of LGBT literature”.

Other outlets and social media channels close to the authorities also reported the raid.

More than 10 Eksmo staff were arrested last year in a similar probe after authorities said “LGBT propaganda” had been “detected” in several books published by a subsidiary of the group.

The Eksmo publishing house was founded in 1991 and leads Russia’s books market, publishing all genres of adult and children’s literature.

As part of the crackdown, Russia has in recent years targeted LGBTQ clubs and bars, raiding them and arresting owners.

Courts have also issued fines and short-term jail sentences to people displaying LGBTQ “symbols”, such as clothes, jewellery or posters featuring the rainbow flag.