A Moscow court has handed Dmitry Protopopov, publisher of Popcorn Books, a four-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 8.7 million roubles (approximately $105,000) for distributing books containing LGBT-related content.
According to the state news agency TASS, Protopopov pleaded guilty and apologised to the court and the public. The conviction falls under Russia’s laws restricting materials deemed to promote non-traditional sexual relations.
The case is the latest in a series of enforcement actions against publishers, streaming platforms and online services. Russian authorities have steadily expanded restrictions on LGBT-related expression, framing the measures as necessary to safeguard traditional values against what officials describe as Western cultural influence.
In 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court labelled the “international LGBT movement” as extremist. That ruling opened the door to criminal liability for individuals and organisations accused of supporting it. Since then, private companies have faced fines and other penalties for hosting content authorities consider to violate the rules.
The suspended sentence means Protopopov will avoid prison time provided he complies with the court’s conditions, but the fine and conviction underscore the intensifying pressure on cultural and media businesses operating in Russia.
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